Method and system for automatically ordering and fulfilling architecture, design and construction physical product and product sample requests with bar codes

ABSTRACT

A method and system for automatically ordering and fulfilling architecture, design or construction physical product and/or product sample requests with bar codes is presented. Physical product request bar codes are added to plural 3D modeling programs, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) programs, and digital and paper copies of product swatches, product cards, product sheets, product pages, product catalogs, and/or or standards books, and/or other product information sources and/or directly to physical products and/or product samples with a laser. When the bar codes are activated, architecture, design or construction physical products and/or product samples are automatically added to a shopping cart for electronic purchase and/or requested without charge.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The U.S. utility patent application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) ofU.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 16/427,542, filed May 31, 2019,that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,______, on ______, 2022, the contents ofall which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to ordering and fulfilling requests forarchitecture, design or construction physical products. Morespecifically, it relates to a method and system for automaticallyordering and fulfilling architecture, design and construction physicalproduct and product sample requests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a process including thegeneration and management of digital representations of physical andfunctional characteristics of physical spaces. Building InformationModels (BIMs) programs span the whole design concept-to-occupationtime-span.

Current BIM software is also used by individuals, businesses andgovernment authorities who plan, design, construct, operate and maintaindiverse physical infrastructures, from water, wastewater, electricity,gas, refuse and communication utilities to roads, bridges and ports,from houses, apartments, schools and shops to offices, factories, andprisons, etc.

A BIM model enables users to understand relationships between spaces,building materials, and various systems within a physical structure. BIMsoftware can be used for every step of the process, from planning, todesign, to construction. BIM solutions let users sequence the steps andelements of the building process, including the building materials andcrews needed to complete the construction.

When any structure is designed with BIM software, it is created in avirtual environment with virtual components, such as virtual studs,doors, windows, siding, flooring, etc. It many instances, it isdifficult to visualize what the actual physical components will looklike in the structure with respect to component, style, color, texture,etc.

During the design phase for any structure it is often desirable toobtain a samples of actual architecture and construction materials usedthat will be used for the actual physical structure. The actualarchitecture and construction materials vary in a number of ways andhave to be carefully selected. For example, a siding material may beappropriate for a structure in a warm climate, but may not beappropriate for the same structure in a cold climate A color selectedfor the walls of a room may look good in BIM simulation, but colors ofpaint that are actually available from paint suppliers may give atotally different look or feel when actually applied to the walls. Afirst manufacturer of a desired architecture or construction materialmay produce a high quality product, while another manufacturer may beproducing a lower quality product. Architects, interior designers andengineers all benefit from obtaining actual samples of building andconstruction materials.

For example, an architect may be designing a residential structure for aclient. The residential structure is to include hardwood floors. Thehardwood floors are available in many different types of materials(e.g., oak, maple, bamboo, etc.,) many different sizes (e.g., ½″ ⅜″,9/16″, etc.) and many different colors (e.g., natural, mocha, chestnut,gray, etc.). It is desirable for the architect to obtain actual samplesof the hardwood flooring materials to allow the architect to evaluatethe hardwood flooring samples in the context of the project and for theclient to actually make a better informed decision on which hardwoodflooring materials they desire.

When an interior designer creates a pitch board/sample board for adesired project, the pitch board/sample board typically includes actualsamples materials include paint chips, fabric swatches and wood andupholstery samples, accessory samples, etc. The samples of materialsallow a design to be presented a comprehensible way and allows theclient to envision what a space is going to look like at the end of theprocess.

When an engineer is designing a new bridge, there are many choices forconnecting the support materials on the bridge with bridge componentssuch as beams, girders, decking, etc. The bridge components areavailable in various dimensions, diameters, finishes and materials. Theengineer will often request actual samples of the bridge component froma number of different manufactures before making a final decision onwhich connection component to select.

There are a number of problems with obtaining samples of buildingmaterials for a desired structure.

One problem is that architects, interior designers, engineers, etc. whoa desire a particular type of architecture or construction materialsample have to typically visit many web-sites, place a large number ofcalls to sales representatives for each desire product or make in personvisits to multiple different manufacturers and/or suppliers. This takesa considerable amount of time and effort to collect the desired samples.In many instances, the sales representatives do not immediately returnphone calls and the calls have to be repeated multiple times.

Another problem is that since most projects have very strict timedeadlines, collecting such samples requires advance planning andschedule to ensure all desired samples are available and arrive on timefor the project. In many instances such planning time constraintsseverely affects progress on the project.

Another problem is that when architects, interior designers, engineers,etc. request architecture and construction material samples, it mayarrive late or never arrive at all. Such a situation could cause delaysin the project or if the samples are for a project pitch, cause theproject to be lost altogether.

Another problem is that when architects, interior designers, engineers,etc. request building and construction material samples from multiplesources, they are arrive at different times and in different packages.The same sample provider may also send multiple packages to the samearchitects, interior designers, engineers, etc. on the same day and ondifferent days. All such samples then have to be collected, organizedand put into a sample library for the project.

There are also a number of problems associated with the manufacturersand suppliers of architecture and construction materials. Thesemanufacturers must supply samples of their building and constructionmaterials whenever they are requested.

Building material samples are used by many different parties in manydifferent ways, including: (1) in sales presentations to builders,contractors, architects and other pro customers; (2) in architects',designers' and engineers' libraries; (3) in architect, designer andengineering client presentations; (4) in big boxes, stores andshowrooms; (5) for in-home selling by contractors and dealers; (6) aslead magnets on websites and other media; (7) as part of sales andinstallation training; and (8) at trade shows.

For most building materials, not having a sample is not an option forthe manufacture or provider. If the manufacture or supplier doesn't′have a sample of a building or construction material, the product willnot even be considered for a project. Even with the dramaticimprovements in technologies like BIM design programs, virtual realityand 3D printing, most products still need an actual physical sample thatcan be provided directly to a requester.

One problem is that for the manufacturers and suppliers of the buildingand construction material samples, providing samples is very expensive.For many companies, their sample program is the largest cost item intheir marketing budget.

Another problem is that here are additional costs a manufacturer orsupplier will spend on samples including: (1) creative costs such asdeveloping the design and copy on a web-site or in print media for theproject; (2) production costs such as the cost of the product created asa sample; (3) administrative costs such as the cost to process andrecord sample requests; (4) picking costs, the costs associated withemployees having to manually pick product samples from storage; and (5)mail and packaging costs such as the cost of placing the sample in ashipping package and mailing and/or engaging a package delivery servicesend out the sample.

Another problem is that when samples are sent out by a manufacturer orsupplier, no thought is given to the packaging the product samplesarrive in. The audience receiving these samples have are creative,visually orientated people. A vast majority of sample deliveries, whichare typically fulfilled by warehouse workers, arrive in unmarked brownboxes that do not any indication the requested samples are inside. Thesamples included in the boxes may be worn, broken or otherwise notvisually appealing. This often leads to further delays in thearchitects, interior designers, engineers receiving the samples from themail room, or timely opening the boxes that include the samples and thearchitects, interior designers, engineers being disappointed in thequality of the product samples.

Another problem is that many times the samples sent out do not includeproduct sheets or other required or desirable information about thearchitecture or construction materials. Such oversights may causearchitects, interior designers, engineers to select other architectureor construction materials from other manufactures or suppliers. Inaddition, such product sheets are expensive to create and reproduce andadd an additional cost for the manufacturer or supplier of the productsamples.

Another problem is that most samples that are sent out do not include a“call to action” in the form a coupon, discount percentage, thank youletter or business card. When architects, interior designers, engineersrequest a product sample, they have initial interest in the product andsteps should be taken based on that initial interest to try make actualsales of the product.

Another problem is that before samples are sent out by a manufacturer orsupplier a sales representative typically has to evaluate and qualify arequester. Otherwise a requester could order multiple free productsamples and use the free product samples to complete a project withoutpurchasing the actual products represented by the product samples.

Another problem is that is it often desirable to purchase actualphysical products represented by the product samples. There is no easyway to purchase the actual physical products represented by the productsamples.

Another problem is that even when bar codes are included on architectureand construction physical products, there is no easy way to import andrecord the actual products represented by the product samples from BIMprograms and other programs using the bar codes.

Another problem is that when are bar codes are activated on architectureand construction physical products there is no easy way to purchase theactual products represented by the physical products from BIM programsand other programs using the bar codes.

Thus, it is desirable to solve some of the problems associated withproviding access to architecture and building material products from BIMprograms and other programs and providing fulfillment of sucharchitecture and construction physical products and product samples torequesters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, someof the problems associated ordering and fulfilling architecture, designor construction physical product and/or product sample requests. Amethod and system for automatically ordering and fulfillingarchitecture, design or construction physical product and/or productsample requests with bar codes is presented.

Physical product request bar codes are added to plural 3D modelingprograms, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) programs, anddigital and paper copies of product swatches, product cards, productsheets, product pages, product catalogs, and/or or standards books,and/or other product information sources and/or directly to physicalproducts and/or product samples with a laser. When the bar codes areactivated, architecture, design or construction physical products and/orproduct samples are automatically added to a shopping cart forelectronic purchase and/or requested without charge.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of preferred embodimentsof the present invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description. The detailed description proceeds withreferences to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary electronicinformation processing and display system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary electronicinformation display system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary networking protocolstack;

FIG. 4 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary cloud communicationsnetwork;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary cloud storageobject;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating wearable network devices;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are a flow diagram illustrating a method forautomatically fulfilling architecture, design or construction productsample requests;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction product sample requests;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction product sample requests;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction product sample requests;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a pre-determined location forautomatically fulfilling architecture, design or construction productsample requests;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating and exemplary shipping containerincluding automatically fulfilling architecture, design or constructionproduct samples;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are a flow diagram illustrating a method forautomatically fulfilling architecture, design or construction physicalproduct requests; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating and exemplary shipping containerincluding automatically fulfilling architecture, design or constructionphysical products;

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction physical productrequests; and

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction physical productrequests.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Exemplary Electronic InformationProcessing and Display System

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary electronicinformation display system 10 for automatically fulfilling architecture,design or construction product sample requests. The exemplary electronicsystem 10 includes, but is not limited to, one or more target networkdevices 12, 14, 16, etc. each with one or more processors and each witha non-transitory computer readable medium.

The one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16 (illustrated in FIG. 1only as a table, smart phone and computer for simplicity) include, butare not limited to, desktop and laptop computers, tablet computers,mobile phones, non-mobile phones with displays, three-dimensional (3D)printers, robots, fabrication machines, smart phones, Internet phones,Internet appliances, personal digital/data assistants (PDA), cabletelevision (CATV), satellite television (SATV) and Internet televisionset-top boxes, digital televisions including high definition television(HDTV), three-dimensional (3DTV) televisions, wearable network devices106-112 (FIG. 6 ), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) 27 (i.e., drones,etc.), unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) 29, smart speakers 31 and/or othertypes of network devices.

In one embodiment, the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) 29′ includes adetachable/re-attachable UAV 27′ (FIG. 6 ). In one embodiment, the UGV29 automatically launches and lands the UAV 27′ on and off a portion ofthe UGV 29′. The UGV 29, 29′ illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 is acontinuous track UGV 29, 29′ where the continuous tracks are used toprovide motion. However, the present invention is not limited to such anembodiment and other embodiments can be used to practice the invention(e.g., wheeled robots, robots with legs, etc.).

A “smart phone” is a mobile phone that offers more advanced computingability and connectivity than a contemporary basic feature phone. Smartphones and feature phones may be thought of as handheld computersintegrated with a mobile telephone, but while most feature phones areable to run applications based on platforms such as JAVA ME, a smartphone usually allows the user to install and run more advancedapplications. Smart phones and/or tablet computers run completeoperating system software providing a platform for applicationdevelopers.

The tablet computers include, but are not limited to, tablet computerssuch as the IPAD, by APPLE, Inc., the HP Tablet, by HEWLETT PACKARD,Inc., the PLAYBOOK, by RIM, Inc., the TABLET, by SONY, Inc., etc.

A “smart speaker” 31 is a type of wireless speaker and voice commanddevice with an integrated virtual assistant that offers interactiveactions and hands-free activation with the help of one “hot word” (orseveral “hot words”). Some smart speakers can also act as a smart devicethat utilizes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other wireless protocol standards toextend usage beyond audio playback, such as to control home automationdevices. This can include, but is not be limited to, features such ascompatibility across a number of services and platforms, peer-to-peerconnection through mesh networking, virtual assistants, and others. Eachcan have its own designated interface and features in-house, usuallylaunched or controlled via application or home automation software. Somesmart speakers also include a screen to show the user a visual response.

The target network devices 12, 14, 16 are in communications with anon-cloud computing network 18 and/or a cloud communications network 18′via one or more wired and/or wireless communications interfaces. Thecloud communications network 18′, is also called a “cloud computingnetwork” herein and the terms may be used interchangeably.

The plural target network devices 12, 14, 16 make requests 13, 15 forconstruction, building and/or design product samples via the cloudcommunications network 18 or non-cloud communications network 18′

The cloud communications network 18′ and non-cloud communicationsnetwork 18 include, but is not limited to, communications over a wireconnected to the target network devices, wireless communications, andother types of communications using one or more communications and/ornetworking protocols.

Plural server network devices 20, 22, 24, 26 (only four of which areillustrated) each with one or more processors and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium include one or more associated databases 20′,22′, 24′, 26′. The plural network devices 20, 22, 24, 26 are incommunications with the one or more target devices 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31, 98-104 via the cloud communications network 18′ and non-cloudcommunications network 18.

Plural server network devices 20, 22, 24, 26 (only four of which areillustrated) are physically located on one more public networks 76 (SeeFIG. 4 ), private networks 72, community networks 74 and/or hybridnetworks 78 comprising the cloud network 18.

One or more server network devices (e.g., 20, 22, 24, 26, etc.) storeportions 13′, 15′ of the electronic content 13, 15 (e.g., product samplerequests, etc.) as cloud storage objects 82 (FIG. 5 ) as is describedherein.

The plural server network devices 20, 22, 24 26, may be connected to,but are not limited to, manufacturing/fabrication machines 35, 3Dprinters 39, robots 41, World Wide Web servers, Internet servers, searchengine servers, vertical search engine servers, social networking siteservers, file servers, other types of electronic information servers,and other types of server network devices (e.g., edge servers,firewalls, routers, gateways, etc.).

A manufacturing/fabrication machine 35, includes, but is not limited tomachines such as waterjets, press brakes, laser systems, plasma systems,shears, grinders, lathes, mills, routers, Computer Numerical Control(CNC) machines, etc.

“CNC machining” is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmedcomputer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery.The process can be used to control a range of complex machinery, fromgrinders and lathes to mills and routers. CNC tools, move a cutteraround a big table (X and Y axis) and move it up and down as well (Zaxis) allowing it to make 3D movements and create products of all sortsof shapes and sizes.

A “3D printer” 39 include 3D printing or “Additive manufacturing.” 3Dprinting is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object ofvirtually any shape from a digital model. 3D printing is achieved usingan “additive process,” where successive layers of material are laid downin different shapes. 3D printing is also considered distinct fromtraditional machining techniques, which mostly rely on the removal ofmaterial by methods such as cutting or drilling and are “subtractive”processes.

In one embodiment, a 3D printer 39 is a limited type of industrial robotthat is capable of carrying out an additive process under computercontrol. The 3D printing technology is used for both prototyping anddistributed manufacturing with applications in architecture, building(AEC), industrial design, automotive, aerospace, military, engineering,civil engineering, dental and medical industries, biotech (human tissuereplacement), fashion, footwear, jewelry, eyewear, education, geographicinformation systems, food, and/or many other fields.

An “industrial robot” 41 is a robot system used for manufacturing.Industrial robots are automated, programmable and capable of movement onthree or more axis. Typical applications of robots include welding,painting, assembly, pick and place for products, product inspection, andtesting; all accomplished with high endurance, speed, and precision.They also assist in material handling.

The plural server network devices 20, 22, 24, 26 also include, but arenot limited to, network servers used for cloud computing providers, etc.

The cloud communications network 18′ and non-cloud communicationsnetwork 18 includes, but is not limited to, a wired and/or wirelesscommunications network comprising one or more portions of: the Internet,an intranet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WiLAN), a WideArea Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) andother types of wired and/or wireless communications networks 18.

The cloud communications network 18′ and non-cloud communicationsnetwork 18 includes one or more gateways, routers, bridges and/orswitches. A gateway connects computer networks using different networkprotocols and/or operating at different transmission capacities. Arouter receives transmitted messages and forwards them to their correctdestinations over the most efficient available route. A bridge is adevice that connects networks using the same communications protocols sothat information can be passed from one network device to another. Aswitch is a device that filters and forwards packets between networksegments based on some pre-determined sequence (e g, timing, sequencenumber, etc.).

An operating environment for the network devices of the exemplaryelectronic information display system 10 include a processing systemwith one or more high speed Central Processing Unit(s) (CPU),processors, one or more memories and/or other types of non-transitorycomputer readable mediums. In accordance with the practices of personsskilled in the art of computer programming, the present invention isdescribed below with reference to acts and symbolic representations ofoperations or instructions that are performed by the processing system,unless indicated otherwise. Such acts and operations or instructions arereferred to as being “computer-executed,” “CPU-executed,” or“processor-executed.”

It will be appreciated that acts and symbolically represented operationsor instructions include the manipulation of electrical information bythe CPU or processor. An electrical system represents data bits whichcause a resulting transformation or reduction of the electricalinformation or biological information, and the maintenance of data bitsat memory locations in a memory system to thereby reconfigure orotherwise alter the CPU's or processor's operation, as well as otherprocessing of information. The memory locations where data bits aremaintained are physical locations that have particular electrical,magnetic, optical, or organic properties corresponding to the data bits.

The data bits may also be maintained on a non-transitory computerreadable medium including magnetic disks, optical disks, organic memory,and any other volatile (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM)) ornon-volatile (e.g., Read-Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.) massstorage system readable by the CPU. The non-transitory computer readablemedium includes cooperating or interconnected computer readable medium,which exist exclusively on the processing system or can be distributedamong multiple interconnected processing systems that may be local orremote to the processing system.

Exemplary Electronic Content Display System

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary electronic contentinformation display system 28. The exemplary electronic informationsystem display system 12′ includes, but is not limited to a targetnetwork device (e.g., 12, etc.) with an application 30 and a displaycomponent 32. The application 30 presents a graphical user interface(GUI) 34 on the display 32 component. The GUI 32 presents a multi-window36, 38, etc. (only two of which are illustrated) interface to a user.

In one embodiment of the invention, the application 30 is a softwareapplication. However, the present invention is not limited to thisembodiment and the application 30 can be hardware, firmware, hardwareand/or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the application 30 isa mobile application for a smart phone, electronic tablet and/or othernetwork device. In another embodiment, the application 30 a, 30 b, 30 c,30 d is a cloud application used on a cloud communications network 18.However, the present invention is not limited these embodiments andother embodiments can be used to practice the invention

In another embodiment, a portion of the application 30 is executing onthe target network devices 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31, 98-104 and anotherportion of the application 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d is executing on theserver network devices 20, 22, 24, 26. The applications also include oneor more library applications. However, the present invention is notlimited these embodiments and other embodiments can be used to practicethe invention.

Exemplary Networking Protocol Stack

FIG. 3 a block diagram illustrating a layered protocol stack 38 fornetwork devices in the electronic information display system 10. Thelayered protocol stack 38 is described with respect to Internet Protocol(IP) suites comprising in general from lowest-to-highest, a link 42,network 44, transport 48 and application 56 layers. However, more orfewer layers could also be used, and different layer designations couldalso be used for the layers in the protocol stack 38 (e.g., layeringbased on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model including fromlowest-to-highest, a physical, data-link, network, transport, session,presentation and application layer.).

The network devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 98-104 areconnected to the communication network 18 with Network Interface Card(NIC) cards including device drivers 40 in a link layer 42 for theactual hardware connecting the network devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24,26, 27, 29, 31, 98-104 to the cloud communications network 18. Forexample, the NIC device drivers 40 may include a serial port devicedriver, a digital subscriber line (DSL) device driver, an Ethernetdevice driver, a wireless device driver, a wired device driver, etc. Thedevice drivers interface with the actual hardware being used to connectthe network devices to the cloud communications network 18. The NICcards have a medium access control (MAC) address that is unique to eachNIC and unique across the whole cloud network 18. The Medium AccessControl (MAC) protocol is used to provide a data link layer of anEthernet LAN system and for other network systems.

Above the link layer 42 is a network layer 44 (also called the InternetLayer for Internet Protocol (IP) suites). The network layer 44 includes,but is not limited to, an IP layer 46.

IP 46 is an addressing protocol designed to route traffic within anetwork or between networks. However, more fewer or other protocols canalso be used in the network layer 44, and the present invention is notlimited to IP 46. For more information on IP 46 see IETF RFC-791,incorporated herein by reference.

Above network layer 44 is a transport layer 48. The transport layer 48includes, but is not limited to, an optional Internet Group ManagementProtocol (IGMP) layer 50, a Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)layer 52, a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) layer 52 and a UserDatagram Protocol (UDP) layer 54. However, more, fewer or otherprotocols could also be used in the transport layer 48.

Optional IGMP layer 50, hereinafter IGMP 50, is responsible formulticasting. For more information on IGMP 50 see RFC-1112, incorporatedherein by reference. ICMP layer 52, hereinafter ICMP 52 is used for IP46 control. The main functions of ICMP 52 include error reporting,reachability testing (e.g., pinging, etc.), route-change notification,performance, subnet addressing and other maintenance. For moreinformation on ICMP 52 see RFC-792, incorporated herein by reference.Both IGMP 50 and ICMP 52 are not required in the protocol stack 38. ICMP52 can be used alone without optional IGMP layer 50.

TCP layer 54, hereinafter TCP 54, provides a connection-oriented,end-to-end reliable protocol designed to fit into a layered hierarchy ofprotocols which support multi-network applications. TCP 54 provides forreliable inter-process communication between pairs of processes innetwork devices attached to distinct but interconnected networks. Formore information on TCP 54 see RFC-793, incorporated herein byreference.

UDP layer 56, hereinafter UDP 56, provides a connectionless mode ofcommunications with datagrams in an interconnected set of computernetworks. UDP 56 provides a transaction oriented datagram protocol,where delivery and duplicate packet protection are not guaranteed. Formore information on UDP 56 see RFC-768, incorporated herein byreference. Both TCP 54 and UDP 56 are not required in protocol stack 38.Either TCP 54 or UDP 56 can be used without the other.

Above transport layer 48 is an application layer 57 where applicationprograms 58 (e.g., 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, etc.) to carry outdesired functionality for a network device reside. For example, theapplication programs 58 for the client network devices 12, 14, 16, 27,29, 31, 98-104 may include web-browsers or other application programs,application program 30, while application programs for the servernetwork devices 20, 22, 24, 26 may include other application programs(e.g., 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, etc.).

In one embodiment, application program 30 includes a physical productand/or product sample request application, a c, an ArtificialIntelligence (AI) application 30 b and/or a dedicated product pageproduct sample application 30 c including a graphical physical productand/or sample ordering button 21. However, the present invention is notlimited to such an embodiment and more, fewer and/or other applicationscan be used to practice the invention.

However, the protocol stack 38 is not limited to the protocol layersillustrated and more, fewer or other layers and protocols can also beused in protocol stack 38. In addition, other protocols from theInternet Protocol suites (e.g., Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, (SMTP),Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP),Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), DNS, etc.) and/or otherprotocols from other protocol suites may also be used in protocol stack38.

In addition, markup languages such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML),EXtensible Markup Language (XML) and others are used.

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a markup language for creating webpages and other information that can be displayed in a web browser.

HTML is written in the form of HTML elements consisting of tags enclosedin angle brackets within the web page content. HTML tags most commonlycome in pairs although some tags represent empty elements and so areunpaired. The first tag in a pair is the start tag, and the second tagis the end tag (they are also called opening tags and closing tags). Inbetween these tags web designers can add text, further tags, commentsand other types of text-based content.

The purpose of a web browser is to read HTML documents and compose theminto visible or audible web pages. The browser does not display the HTMLtags, but uses the tags to interpret the content of the page.

HTML elements form the building blocks of all websites. HTML allowsimages and objects to be embedded and can be used to create interactiveforms. It provides a means to create structured documents by denotingstructural semantics for text such as headings, paragraphs, lists,links, quotes and other items. It can embed scripts written in languagessuch as JavaScript which affect the behavior of HTML web pages.

EXtensible Markup Language (XML) is another markup language that definesa set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is bothhuman-readable and machine-readable. It is defined in the XML 1.0Specification produced by the W3C, the contents of which areincorporated by reference and several other related specifications, allfree open standards.

XML a textual data format with strong support via Unicode for thelanguages of the world. Although the design of XML focuses on documents,it is widely used for the representation of arbitrary data structures,for example in web services. The oldest schema language for XML is theDocument Type Definition (DTD). DTDs within XML documents defineentities, which are arbitrary fragments of text and/or markup tags thatthe XML processor inserts in the DTD itself and in the XML documentwherever they are referenced, like character escapes.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention include network devicesand wired and wireless interfaces that are compliant with all or part ofstandards proposed by the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE), International TelecommunicationsUnion-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU), EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Internet Engineering TaskForce (IETF), U.S. National Institute of Security Technology (NIST),American National Standard Institute (ANSI), Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) Forum, Bluetooth Forum, or the ADSL Forum.

Wireless Interfaces

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wireless interfaces onnetwork devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 98-104 includebut are not limited to, IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n,802.15.4 (ZigBee), “Wireless Fidelity” (Wi-Fi), “WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access” (WiMAX), ETSI High PerformanceRadio Metropolitan Area Network (HIPERMAN) or “RF Home” wirelessinterfaces. In another embodiment of the present invention, the wirelesssensor device may include an integral or separate Bluetooth and/or infradata association (IrDA) module for wireless Bluetooth or wirelessinfrared communications. However, the present invention is not limitedto such an embodiment and other 802.11xx and other types of wirelessinterfaces can also be used.

802.11b is a short-range wireless network standard. The IEEE 802.11bstandard defines wireless interfaces that provide up to 11 Mbps wirelessdata transmission to and from wireless devices over short ranges.802.11a is an extension of the 802.11b and can deliver speeds up to 54Mbps. 802.11g deliver speeds on par with 802.11a. However, other 802.11XXinterfaces can also be used and the present invention is not limited tothe 802.11 protocols defined. The IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11gstandards are incorporated herein by reference.

Wi-Fi is a type of 802.11xx interface, whether 802.11b, 802.11a,dual-band, etc. Wi-Fi devices include an RF interfaces such as 2.4 GHzfor 802.11b or 802.11g and 5 GHz for 802.11a.

802.15.4 (Zigbee) is low data rate network standard used for meshnetwork devices such as sensors, interactive toys, smart badges, remotecontrols, and home automation. The 802.15.4 standard provides data ratesof 250 kbps, 40 kbps, and 20 kbps., two addressing modes; 16-bit shortand 64-bit IEEE addressing, support for critical latency devices, suchas joysticks, Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance,(CSMA-CA) channel access, automatic network establishment by acoordinator, a full handshake protocol for transfer reliability, powermanagement to ensure low power consumption for multi-month to multi-yearbattery usage and up to 16 channels in the 2.4 GHz Industrial,Scientific and Medical (ISM) band (Worldwide), 10 channels in the 915MHz (US) and one channel in the 868 MHz band (Europe). The IEEE802.15.4-2003 standard is incorporated herein by reference.

WiMAX is an industry trade organization formed by leading communicationscomponent and equipment companies to promote and certify compatibilityand interoperability of broadband wireless access equipment thatconforms to the IEEE 802.16XX and ETSI HIPERMAN. HIPERMAN is theEuropean standard for metropolitan area networks (MAN).

The IEEE The 802.16a and 802.16g standards are wireless MAN technologystandard that provides a wireless alternative to cable, DSL and T1/E1for last mile broadband access. It is also used as complimentarytechnology to connect IEEE 802.11XX hot spots to the Internet.

The IEEE 802.16a standard for 2-11 GHz is a wireless MAN technology thatprovides broadband wireless connectivity to fixed, portable and nomadicdevices. It provides up to 50-kilometers of service area range, allowsusers to get broadband connectivity without needing direct line of sightwith the base station, and provides total data rates of up to 280 Mbpsper base station, which is enough bandwidth to simultaneously supporthundreds of businesses with T1/E1-type connectivity and thousands ofhomes with DSL-type connectivity with a single base station. The IEEE802.16g provides up to 100 Mbps.

The IEEE 802.16e standard is an extension to the approved IEEE802.16/16a/16g standard. The purpose of 802.16e is to add limitedmobility to the current standard which is designed for fixed operation.

The ESTI HIPERMAN standard is an interoperable broadband fixed wirelessaccess standard for systems operating at radio frequencies between 2 GHzand 11 GHz.

The IEEE 802.16a, 802.16e and 802.16g standards are incorporated hereinby reference. WiMAX can be used to provide a WLP.

The ETSI HIPERMAN standards TR 101 031, TR 101 475, TR 101 493-1 throughTR 101 493-3, TR 101 761-1 through TR 101 761-4, TR 101 762, TR 101763-1 through TR 101 763-3 and TR 101 957 are incorporated herein byreference. ETSI HIPERMAN can be used to provide a WLP.

In one embodiment, the plural server network devices 20, 22, 24, 26include a connection to plural network interface cards (NICs) in abackplane connected to a communications bus. The NIC cards providegigabit/second (1×10⁹ bits/second) communications speed of electronicinformation. This allows “scaling out” for fast electronic contentretrieval. The NICs are connected to the plural server network devices20, 22, 24, 26 and the cloud communications network 18. However, thepresent invention is not limited to the NICs described and other typesof NICs in other configurations and connections with and/or withoutbuses can also be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, of the invention, the wireless interfaces alsoinclude wireless personal area network (WPAN) interfaces. As is known inthe art, a WPAN is a personal area network for interconnecting devicescentered around an individual person's devices in which the connectionsare wireless. A WPAN interconnects all the ordinary computing andcommunicating devices that a person has on their desk (e.g. computer,etc.) or carry with them (e.g., PDA, mobile phone, smart phone, tablecomputer two-way pager, etc.)

A key concept in WPAN technology is known as “plugging in.” In the idealscenario, when any two WPAN-equipped devices come into close proximity(within several meters and/or feet of each other) or within a few milesand/or kilometers of a central server (not illustrated), they cancommunicate via wireless communications as if connected by a cable. WPANdevices can also lock out other devices selectively, preventing needlessinterference or unauthorized access to secure information. Zigbee is onewireless protocol used on WPAN networks such as cloud communicationsnetwork 18′ or non-cloud communications network 18.

The one or more target network devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27,29, 31, 98-104 and one or more server network devices 20, 22, 24, 26communicate with each other and other network devices with near fieldcommunications (NFC) and/or machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.

“Near field communication (NFC)” is a set of standards for smartphonesand similar network devices to establish radio communication with eachother by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity,usually no more than a few centimeters. Present applications includecontactless transactions, data exchange, and simplified setup of morecomplex communications such as Wi-Fi. Communication is also possiblebetween an NFC device and an unpowered NFC chip, called a “tag”including radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags 99 and/or sensor.

NFC standards cover communications protocols and data exchange formats,and are based on existing radio-frequency identification (RFID)standards including ISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa. These standards includeISO/IEC 1809 and those defined by the NFC Forum, all of which areincorporated by reference.

An “RFID tag” is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into aproduct, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and/ortracking using RF signals.

An “RFID sensor” is a device that measures a physical quantity andconverts it into an RF signal which can be read by an observer or by aninstrument (e.g., target network devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27,29, 31, 98-104, server network devices 20, 22, 24, 26, etc.)

“Machine to machine (M2M)” refers to technologies that allow bothwireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices of the sameability. M2M uses a device to capture an event (such as option purchase,etc.), which is relayed through a network (wireless, wired cloud, etc.)to an application (software program), that translates the captured eventinto meaningful information. Such communication was originallyaccomplished by having a remote network of machines relay informationback to a central hub for analysis, which would then be rerouted into asystem like a personal computer.

However, modern M2M communication has expanded beyond a one-to-oneconnection and changed into a system of networks that transmits datamany-to-one and many-to-many to plural different types of devices andappliances. The expansion of IP networks across the world has made itfar easier for M2M communication to take place and has lessened theamount of power and time necessary for information to be communicatedbetween machines.

However, the present invention is not limited to such wirelessinterfaces and wireless networks and more, fewer and/or other wirelessinterfaces can be used to practice the invention.

Wired Interfaces

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wired interfaces includewired interfaces and corresponding networking protocols for wiredconnections to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and/or acable television network (CATV) and/or satellite television networks(SATV) and/or three-dimensional television (3DTV), including HDTV thatconnect the network devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31,98-104 via one or more twisted pairs of copper wires, digital subscriberlines (e.g. DSL, ADSL, VDSL, etc.) coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,other connection media or other connection interfaces. The PSTN is anypublic switched telephone network provided by AT&T, GTE, Sprint, MCI,SBC, Verizon and others. The CATV is any cable television networkprovided by the Comcast, Time Warner, etc. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such wired interfaces and more, fewer and/orother wired interfaces can be used to practice the invention.

Television Services

In one embodiment, the cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dprovide cloud SaaS 64 services and/or non-cloud application servicesfrom television services over the cloud communications network 18′ orapplication services over the non-cloud communications network 18. Thetelevision services include digital television services, including, butnot limited to, cable television, satellite television, high-definitiontelevision, three-dimensional, televisions and other types of networkdevices.

However, the present invention is not limited to such televisionservices and more, fewer and/or other television services can be used topractice the invention.

Internet Television Services

In one embodiment, the cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dprovide cloud SaaS 64 services and/or non-cloud application servicesfrom Internet television services over the cloud communications network18′ or non-cloud communications network 18 The television servicesinclude Internet television, Web-TV, and/or Internet Protocol Television(IPtv) and/or other broadcast television services.

“Internet television” allows users to choose a program or the televisionshow they want to watch from an archive of programs or from a channeldirectory. The two forms of viewing Internet television are streamingcontent directly to a media player or simply downloading a program to aviewer's set-top box, game console, computer, or other network device.

“Web-TV” delivers digital content via broadband and mobile networks. Thedigital content is streamed to a viewer's set-top box, game console,computer, or other network device.

“Internet Protocol television (IPtv)” is a system through which Internettelevision services are delivered using the architecture and networkingmethods of the Internet Protocol Suite over a packet-switched networkinfrastructure, e.g., the Internet and broadband Internet accessnetworks, instead of being delivered through traditional radio frequencybroadcast, satellite signal, and cable television formats.

However, the present invention is not limited to such InternetTelevision services and more, fewer and/or other Internet Televisionservices can be used to practice the invention.

General Search Engine Services

In one embodiment, the cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dprovide cloud SaaS 64 services and/or non-cloud application servicesfrom general search engine services. A search engine is designed tosearch for information on a cloud communications network 18′ ornon-cloud communications network 18 such as the Internet including WorldWide Web servers, HTTP, FTP servers etc. The search results aregenerally presented in a list of electronic results. The information mayconsist of web pages, images, electronic information, multimediainformation, and other types of files. Some search engines also minedata available in databases or open directories. Unlike web directories,which are maintained by human editors, search engines typically operatealgorithmically and/or are a mixture of algorithmic and human input.

In one embodiment, the cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dprovide cloud SaaS 64 services and/or non-cloud application servicesfrom general search engine services. In another embodiment, the cloudapplications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d provide general search engineservices by interacting with one or more other public search engines(e.g., GOOGLE, BING, YAHOO, etc.) and/or private search engine services.

In another embodiment, the cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dprovide cloud SaaS 64 services and/or non-cloud application servicesfrom specialized search engine services, such as vertical search engineservices by interacting with one or more other public vertical searchengines (e.g., GALAXY.COM, etc.) and/or private search engine services.

However, the present invention is not limited to such general and/orvertical search engine services and more, fewer and/or other generalsearch engine services can be used to practice the invention.

Social Networking Services

In one embodiment, the cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dprovide cloud SaaS 64 services and/or non-cloud application servicesfrom one more social networking services including to/from one or moresocial networking web-sites (e.g., FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, TWITTER,INSTAGRAM, etc.). The social networking web-sites also include, but arenot limited to, social couponing sites, dating web-sites, blogs, RSSfeeds, and other types of information web-sites in which messages can beleft or posted for a variety of social activities.

However, the present invention is not limited to the social networkingservices described and other public and private social networkingservices can also be used to practice the invention.

Security and Encryption

Network devices 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 98-104 withwired and/or wireless interfaces of the present invention include one ormore of the security and encryptions techniques discussed herein forsecure communications on the cloud communications network 18′ ornon-cloud communications network 18.

Application programs 58 (FIG. 2 ) include security and/or encryptionapplication programs integral to and/or separate from the applications30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d. Security and/or encryption programs may alsoexist in hardware components on the network devices (12, 14, 16, 20, 22,24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 98-104) described herein and/or exist in acombination of hardware, software and/or firmware.

Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) (also called “Wired EquivalentPrivacy) is a security protocol for WiLANs defined in the IEEE 802.11bstandard. WEP is cryptographic privacy algorithm, based on the RivestCipher 4 (RC4) encryption engine, used to provide confidentiality for802.11b wireless data.

RC4 is cipher designed by RSA Data Security, Inc. of Bedford, Mass.,which can accept encryption keys of arbitrary length, and is essentiallya pseudo random number generator with an output of the generator beingXORed with a data stream to produce encrypted data.

One problem with WEP is that it is used at the two lowest layers of theOSI model, the physical layer and the data link layer, therefore, itdoes not offer end-to-end security. One another problem with WEP is thatits encryption keys are static rather than dynamic. To update WEPencryption keys, an individual has to manually update a WEP key. WEPalso typically uses 40-bit static keys for encryption and thus provides“weak encryption,” making a WEP device a target of hackers.

The IEEE 802.11 Working Group is working on a security upgrade for the802.11 standard called “802.11i.” This supplemental draft standard isintended to improve WiLAN security. It describes the encryptedtransmission of data between systems 802.11X WiLANs. It also defines newencryption key protocols including the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol(TKIP). The IEEE 802.11i draft standard, version 4, completed Jun. 6,2003, is incorporated herein by reference.

The 802.11i standard is based on 802.1x port-based authentication foruser and device authentication. The 802.11i standard includes two maindevelopments: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Robust Security Network(RSN).

WPA uses the same RC4 underlying encryption algorithm as WEP. However,WPA uses TKIP to improve security of keys used with WEP. WPA keys arederived and rotated more often than WEP keys and thus provide additionalsecurity. WPA also adds a message-integrity-check function to preventpacket forgeries.

RSN uses dynamic negotiation of authentication and selectable encryptionalgorithms between wireless access points and wireless devices. Theauthentication schemes proposed in the draft standard include ExtensibleAuthentication Protocol (EAP). One proposed encryption algorithm is anAdvanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption algorithm.

Dynamic negotiation of authentication and encryption algorithms lets RSNevolve with the state of the art in security, adding algorithms toaddress new threats and continuing to provide the security necessary toprotect information that WiLANs carry.

The NIST developed a new encryption standard, the Advanced EncryptionStandard (AES) to keep government information secure. AES is intended tobe a stronger, more efficient successor to Triple Data EncryptionStandard (3DES).

DES is a popular symmetric-key encryption method developed in 1975 andstandardized by ANSI in 1981 as ANSI X.3.92, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. As is known in the art, 3DES is theencrypt-decrypt-encrypt (EDE) mode of the DES cipher algorithm 3DES isdefined in the ANSI standard, ANSI X9.52-1998, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. DES modes of operation are used inconjunction with the NIST Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)for data encryption (FIPS 46-3, October 1999), the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

The NIST approved a FIPS for the AES, FIPS-197. This standard specified“Rijndael” encryption as a FIPS-approved symmetric encryption algorithmthat may be used by U.S. Government organizations (and others) toprotect sensitive information. The NIST FIPS-197 standard (AES FIPS PUB197, November 2001) is incorporated herein by reference.

The NIST approved a FIPS for U.S. Federal Government requirements forinformation technology products for sensitive but unclassified (SBU)communications. The NIST FIPS Security Requirements for CryptographicModules (FIPS PUB 140-2, May 2001) is incorporated herein by reference.

RSA is a public key encryption system which can be used both forencrypting messages and making digital signatures. The letters RSA standfor the names of the inventors: Rivest, Shamir and Adleman. For moreinformation on RSA, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829, now expired andincorporated herein by reference.

“Hashing” is the transformation of a string of characters into a usuallyshorter fixed-length value or key that represents the original string.Hashing is used to index and retrieve items in a database because it isfaster to find the item using the shorter hashed key than to find itusing the original value. It is also used in many encryption algorithms.

Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA), is used for computing a secure condensedrepresentation of a data message or a data file. When a message of anylength <2⁶⁴ bits is input, the SHA-1 produces a 160-bit output called a“message digest.” The message digest can then be input to other securitytechniques such as encryption, a Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) andothers which generates or verifies a security mechanism for the message.SHA-512 outputs a 512-bit message digest. The Secure Hash Standard, FIPSPUB 180-1, Apr. 17, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference.

Message Digest-5 (MD-5) takes as input a message of arbitrary length andproduces as output a 128-bit “message digest” of the input. The MD5algorithm is intended for digital signature applications, where a largefile must be “compressed” in a secure manner before being encrypted witha private (secret) key under a public-key cryptosystem such as RSA. TheIETF RFC-1321, entitled “The MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm” isincorporated here by reference.

Providing a way to check the integrity of information transmitted overor stored in an unreliable medium such as a wireless network is a primenecessity in the world of open computing and communications. Mechanismsthat provide such integrity check based on a secret key are called“message authentication codes” (MAC). Typically, message authenticationcodes are used between two parties that share a secret key in order tovalidate information transmitted between these parties.

Keyed Hashing for Message Authentication Codes (HMAC), is a mechanismfor message authentication using cryptographic hash functions. HMAC isused with any iterative cryptographic hash function, e.g., MD5, SHA-1,SHA-512, etc. in combination with a secret shared key. The cryptographicstrength of HMAC depends on the properties of the underlying hashfunction. The IETF RFC-2101, entitled “HMAC: Keyed-Hashing for MessageAuthentication” is incorporated here by reference.

An Electronic Code Book (ECB) is a mode of operation for a “blockcipher,” with the characteristic that each possible block of plaintexthas a defined corresponding cipher text value and vice versa. In otherwords, the same plaintext value will always result in the same ciphertext value. Electronic Code Book is used when a volume of plaintext isseparated into several blocks of data, each of which is then encryptedindependently of other blocks. The Electronic Code Book has the abilityto support a separate encryption key for each block type.

Diffie and Hellman (DH) describe several different group methods for twoparties to agree upon a shared secret in such a way that the secret willbe unavailable to eavesdroppers. This secret is then converted intovarious types of cryptographic keys. A large number of the variants ofthe DH method exist including ANSI X9.42. The IETF RFC-2631, entitled“Diffie-Hellman Key Agreement Method” is incorporated here by reference.

The HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) Secure (HTTPs), is a standardfor encrypted communications on the World Wide Web. HTTPs is actuallyjust HTTP over a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). For more information onHTTP, see IETF RFC-2616 incorporated herein by reference.

The SSL protocol is a protocol layer which may be placed between areliable connection-oriented network layer protocol (e.g. TCP/IP) andthe application protocol layer (e.g. HTTP). SSL provides for securecommunication between a source and destination by allowing mutualauthentication, the use of digital signatures for integrity, andencryption for privacy.

The SSL protocol is designed to support a range of choices for specificsecurity methods used for cryptography, message digests, and digitalsignatures. The security methods are negotiated between the source anddestination at the start of establishing a protocol session. The SSL 2.0protocol specification, by Kipp E. B. Hickman, 1995 is incorporatedherein by reference. More information on SSL is available at the domainname See “netscape.com/eng/security/SSL_2.html.”

Transport Layer Security (TLS) provides communications privacy over theInternet. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicateover a transport layer (e.g., TCP) in a way that is designed to preventeavesdropping, tampering, or message forgery. For more information onTLS see IETF RFC-2246, incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the security functionality includes Cisco CompatibleEXtensions (CCX). CCX includes security specifications for makers of802.11xx wireless LAN chips for ensuring compliance with Cisco'sproprietary wireless security LAN protocols. As is known in the art,Cisco Systems, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. is supplier of networkinghardware and software, including router and security products.

However, the present invention is not limited to such security andencryption methods described herein and more, fewer and/or other typesof security and encryption methods can be used to practice theinvention. The security and encryption methods described herein can alsobe used in various combinations and/or in different layers of theprotocol stack 38 with each other.

Cloud Computing Networks

FIG. 4 is a block diagram 60 illustrating an exemplary cloud computingnetwork 18. The cloud computing network 18 is also referred to as a“cloud communications network” 18. However, the present invention is notlimited to this cloud computing model and other cloud computing modelscan also be used to practice the invention. The exemplary cloudcommunications network includes both wired and/or wireless components ofpublic and private networks.

In one embodiment, the cloud computing network 18 includes a cloudcommunications network 18 comprising plural different cloud componentnetworks 72, 74, 76, 78. “Cloud computing” is a model for enabling,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., public and private networks, servers, storage,applications, and services) that are shared, rapidly provisioned andreleased with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

This exemplary cloud computing model for electronic informationretrieval promotes availability for shared resources and comprises: (1)cloud computing essential characteristics; (2) cloud computing servicemodels; and (3) cloud computing deployment models. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this cloud computing model and other cloudcomputing models can also be used to practice the invention.

Exemplary cloud computing essential characteristics appear in Table 1.However, the present invention is not limited to these essentialcharacteristics and more, fewer or other characteristics can also beused to practice the invention.

TABLE 1 1. On-demand automatic architecture, design or constructionphysical product and/or product sample fulfillment services. Automaticarchitecture, design or construction physical product and/or productsample fulfillment services can unilaterally provision computingcapabilities, such as server time and network storage, as neededautomatically without requiring human interaction with each networkserver on the cloud communications network 18. 2. Broadband networkaccess. Automatic architecture, design or construction physical productand/or product sample fulfillment services capabilities are availableover plural broadband communications networks and accessed throughstandard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thickclient platforms (e.g., mobile phones, smartphones 14, tablet computers12, laptops, PDAs, etc.). The broadband network access includes highspeed network access such as 3G, 4G and 5G wireless and/or wired andbroadband and/or ultra-broad band (e.g., WiMAX, etc.) network access. 3.Resource pooling. Automatic architecture, design or constructionphysical product and/or product sample fulfillment services resourcesare pooled to serve multiple requesters using a multi-tenant model, withdifferent physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned andreassigned according to demand. There is location independence in that arequester of services has no control and/ or knowledge over the exactlocation of the provided by the automatic architecture, design orconstruction physical product and/or product sample fulfillment serviceresources but may be able to specify location at a higher level ofabstraction (e.g., country, state, or data center). Examples of pooledresources include storage, processing, memory, network bandwidth,virtual server network device and virtual target network devices. 4.Rapid elasticity. Capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale for automatic building, constructionand design product generation service collaboration. For automaticbuilding, construction and design product generation services,multi-media collaboration converters, the automatic architecture, designor construction physical product and/or product sample fulfillmentservices collaboration and analytic conversion capabilities availablefor provisioning appear to be unlimited and can be used in any quantityat any time. 5. Measured Services. Cloud computing systems automaticallycontrol and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability atsome level of abstraction appropriate to the type of automaticarchitecture, design or construction physical product and/or productsample fulfillment services (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth,custom electronic content retrieval applications, etc.). Electronicautomatic architecture, design or construction physical product and/orproduct sample fulfillment services collaboration conversion usage ismonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theautomatic architecture, design or construction physical product and/orproduct sample fulfillment services collaboration provider and the BIMmulti-media collaboration requester of the utilized electronic contentstorage retrieval service.

Exemplary cloud computing service models illustrated in FIG. 4 appear inTable 2. However, the present invention is not limited to these servicemodels and more, fewer or other service models can also be used topractice the invention.

TABLE 2 1. Cloud Computing Software Applications 62 for automaticarchitecture, design or construction physical product and/or productsample and physical product and product sample fulfillment services(CCSA, SaaS 64). The capability to use the provider’s applications 30,30a, 30b, 30c, 30d running on a cloud infrastructure 66. The cloudcomputing applications 62, are accessible from the server network device20 from various client devices 12, 14, 16 through a thin clientinterface such as a web browser, etc. The user does not manage orcontrol the underlying cloud infrastructure 66 including network,servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application 30,30a, 30b, 30c, 30d capabilities, with the possible exception of limiteduser-specific application configuration settings. 2. Cloud ComputingInfrastructure 66 for automatic architecture, design or constructionproduct sample and/or physical product fulfillment services (CCI 68).The capability provided to the user is to provision processing, storageand retrieval, networks 18, 72, 74, 76, 78 and other fundamentalcomputing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and runarbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. The user does not manage or control theunderlying cloud infrastructure 66 but has control over operatingsystems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control ofselect networking components (e.g., host firewalls, etc.). 3. CloudComputing Platform 70 for automatic product sample and/or physicalproduct fulfillment services (CCP 71). The capability provided to theuser to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure 66 created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supportedservers 20, 22, 24, 26, etc.. The user not manage or control theunderlying cloud infrastructure 66 including network, servers, operatingsystems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications 30a,30b, 30c, 30d and possibly application hosting environmentconfigurations.

Exemplary cloud computing deployment models appear in Table 3. However,the present invention is not limited to these deployment models andmore, fewer or other deployment models can also be used to practice theinvention.

TABLE 3 1. Private cloud network 72. The cloud network infrastructure isoperated solely for automatic architecture, design or constructionproduct sample and/or product sample fulfillment services. It may bemanaged by the electronic content retrieval or a third party and mayexist on premise or off premise. 2. Community cloud network 74. Thecloud network infrastructure is shared by several differentorganizations and supports a specific electronic content storage andretrieval community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, securityrequirements, policy, compliance considerations, etc.). It may bemanaged by the different organizations or a third party and may exist onpremise or off premise. 3. Public cloud network 76. The cloud networkinfrastructure such as the Internet, PSTN, SATV, CATV, Internet TV, etc.is made available to the general public or a large industry group and isowned by one or more organizations selling cloud services. 4. Hybridcloud network 78. The cloud network infrastructure 66 is a compositionof two and/or more cloud networks 18 (e.g., private 72, community 74,and/or public 76, etc.) and/or other types of public and/or privatenetworks (e.g., intranets, etc.) that remain unique entities but arebound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enablesdata and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds, etc.)

Cloud software 64 for electronic content retrieval takes full advantageof the cloud paradigm by being service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperabilityfor electronic content retrieval. However, cloud software services 64can include various states.

Cloud storage of desired electronic content on a cloud computing networkincludes agility, scalability, elasticity and multi-tenancy. Although astorage foundation may be comprised of block storage or file storagesuch as that exists on conventional networks, cloud storage is typicallyexposed to requesters of desired electronic content as cloud objects.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cloud application 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c,30 d, offers cloud services for automatic building, construction anddesign product generation. The application 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 doffers the cloud computing Infrastructure 66, 68 as a Service 62 (IaaS),including a cloud software infrastructure service 62, the cloud Platform70, 71 as a Service 62 (PaaS) including a cloud software platformservice 62 and/or offers Specific cloud software services as a Service64 (SaaS) including a specific cloud software service 64 for automaticarchitecture, design or construction product sample and/or physicalproduct fulfillment services. The IaaS, PaaS and SaaS include one ormore of cloud services 62 comprising networking, storage, server networkdevice, virtualization, operating system, middleware, run-time, dataand/or application services, or plural combinations thereof, on thecloud communications network 18.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram 80 illustrating an exemplary cloud storageobject 82. One or more server network devices (e.g., 20, 22, 24, 26,etc.) store portions 13′, 15′ of the electronic content 13, 15 (e.g.,product sample requests, etc.) as cloud storage objects 82 (FIG. 5 ) asis described herein.

The cloud storage object 82 includes an envelope portion 84, with aheader portion 86, and a body portion 88. However, the present inventionis not limited to such a cloud storage object 82 and other cloud storageobjects and other cloud storage objects with more, fewer or otherportions can also be used to practice the invention.

The envelope portion 84 uses unique namespace Uniform ResourceIdentifiers (URIs) and/or Uniform Resource Names (URNs), and/or UniformResource Locators (URLs) unique across the cloud communications network18 to uniquely specify, location and version information and encodingrules used by the cloud storage object 82 across the whole cloudcommunications network 18. For more information, see IETF RFC-3305,Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs), URLs, and Uniform Resource Names(URNs), the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

The envelope portion 84 of the cloud storage object 82 is followed by aheader portion 86. The header portion 86 includes extended informationabout the cloud storage objects such as authorization and/or transactioninformation, etc.

The body portion 88 includes methods 90 (i.e., a sequence ofinstructions, etc.) for using embedded application-specific data in dataelements 92. The body portion 88 typically includes only one portion ofplural portions of application-specific data 92 and independent data 94so the cloud storage object 82 can provide distributed, redundant faulttolerant, security and privacy features described herein.

Cloud storage objects 82 have proven experimentally to be a highlyscalable, available and reliable layer of abstraction that alsominimizes the limitations of common file systems. Cloud storage objects82 also provide low latency and low storage and transmission costs.

Cloud storage objects 82 are comprised of many distributed resources,but function as a single storage object, are highly fault tolerantthrough redundancy and provide distribution of desired electroniccontent across public communication networks 76, and one or more privatenetworks 72, community networks 74 and hybrid networks 78 of the cloudcommunications network 18. Cloud storage objects 82 are also highlydurable because of creation of copies of portions of desired electroniccontent across such networks 72, 74, 76, 78 of the cloud communicationsnetwork 18. Cloud storage objects 82 includes one or more portions ofdesired electronic content and can be stored on any of the 72, 74, 76,78 networks of the cloud communications network 18. Cloud storageobjects 82 are transparent to a requester of desired electronic contentand are managed by cloud applications 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d.

In one embodiment, cloud storage objects 82 are configurable arbitraryobjects with a size up to hundreds of terabytes, each accompanied bywith a few kilobytes of metadata. Cloud objects are organized into andidentified by a unique identifier unique across the whole cloudcommunications network 18. However, the present invention is not limitedto the cloud storage objects described, and more fewer and other typesof cloud storage objects can be used to practice the invention.

Cloud storage objects 82 present a single unified namespace orobject-space and manages desired electronic content by user oradministrator-defined policies storage and retrieval policies. Cloudstorage objects includes Representational state transfer (REST), SimpleObject Access Protocol (SOAP), Lightweight Directory Access Protocol(LDAP) and/or Application Programming Interface (API) objects and/orother types of cloud storage objects. However, the present invention isnot limited to the cloud storage objects described, and more fewer andother types of cloud storage objects can be used to practice theinvention.

REST is a protocol specification that characterizes and constrainsmacro-interactions storage objects of the four components of a cloudcommunications network 18, namely origin servers, gateways, proxies andclients, without imposing limitations on the individual participants.

SOAP is a protocol specification for exchanging structured informationin the implementation of cloud services with storage objects. SOAP hasat least three major characteristics: (1) Extensibility (includingsecurity/encryption, routing, etc.); (2) Neutrality (SOAP can be usedover any transport protocol such as HTTP, SMTP or even TCP, etc.), and(3) Independence (SOAP allows for almost any programming model to beused, etc.)

LDAP is a software protocol for enabling storage and retrieval ofelectronic content and other resources such as files and devices on thecloud communications network 18. LDAP is a “lightweight” version ofDirectory Access Protocol (DAP), which is part of X.500, a standard fordirectory services in a network. LDAP may be used with X.509 securityand other security methods for secure storage and retrieval. X.509 ispublic key digital certificate standard developed as part of the X.500directory specification. X.509 is used for secure management anddistribution of digitally signed certificates across networks.

An API is a particular set of rules and specifications that softwareprograms can follow to communicate with each other. It serves as aninterface between different software programs and facilitates theirinteraction and provides access to automatic architecture, design orconstruction product sample fulfillment services in a cloud or non-cloudenvironment. In one embodiment, the API for automatic architecture,design or construction product sample fulfillment services is availablein 3D modeling programs such as BIM programs. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments canbe used to practice the invention.

Wearable Devices

Wearable technology” and/or “wearable devices” are clothing andaccessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies.Wearable network devices provide several advantages including, but notlimited to: (1) Quicker access to notifications. Important and/orsummary notifications are sent to alert a user to view the wholemessage. (2) Heads-up information. Digital eye wear allows users todisplay relevant information like directions without having toconstantly glance down; (3) Always-on Searches. Wearable devices providealways-on, hands-free searches; and (4) Recorded data and feedback.Wearable devices take telemetric data recordings and providing usefulfeedback for users for exercise, health, fitness, etc. activities.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram with 96 illustrating wearable devices. Thewearable devices include one or more processors and include, but are notlimited to, wearable digital glasses 98, clothing 100, jewelry 102(e.g., smart rings, smart earrings, etc.) and/or watches 104. However,the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and more, fewerand other types of wearable devices can also be used to practice theinvention.

In one specific embodiment, the application 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dinteracts with wearable devices 98-104 for automatic building,construction and design product generation services the methodsdescribed herein However, the present invention is not limited thisembodiment and other embodiments can also be used to practice theinvention.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—Drones

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 27 (FIG. 1 ), commonly known as a“drone” and also referred to as a “Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)” bythe International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is an aircraftwithout a human pilot aboard. There are different kind of drones 123including: (1) UAS (Unmanned Air System); (2) UAV (Unmanned AerialVehicle); (3) RPAS (Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems) and (4) ModelAircraft. Its flight is controlled either autonomously by onboardcomputers or by the remote control of a pilot on the ground or inanother vehicle. The typical launch and recovery method of an unmannedaircraft is by the function of an automatic system or an externaloperator on the ground. Historically, UAVs 27 were simple remotelypiloted aircraft, but autonomous control is increasingly being employed.

The use of UAVs 27 are characterized by altitudes of flights. Thefollowing types of UAVs 27 fly at different altitudes, broadlycharacterized as: (1) Very high altitude (VHA): above 45,000 feet (morethan 12 km); (2) High altitude (HA): from 20,000 to 45,000 feet (6 to 12km); (3) Medium altitude (MA): from 10 to 20,000 feet (3 to 6 km); or(4) Low altitude (LA): between a few hundred and up to 10,000 feet (1 to3 km).

The specific needs of UAV 27 include required UAV capabilities to allowthem to fly in “non-segregated” air-traffic controlled airspace. Therequirements placed on mobile links to and from a UAV 27 are required interms of aeronautical safety due to the fact that these vehicles areunmanned. An air-traffic control (ATC) link includes full automation ofcommunications between on-board and ground systems. A remote pilot (RP)link places additional and more strenuous constraints on the radiocommunication bearer(s) and systems used in, not necessarily significantas regards the amount of volume of data to be exchanged, in as much asUAV 27 generally possess or will possess their own computerizedautonomous flight management system, limiting the remote pilot (RP)interventions to that of supervising and/or re-establishing flightprocedures or choosing the most appropriate one, should any contingencyarise.

The UAV 27 communicates on Aeronautical Mobile Service (AMS) wirelessfrequency including, but not limited to: (a) 4400-4940 MHz; (b) 5030 (or5010)-5090 MHz, (MLS “core” band; (c) 5090-5150 MHz (“MLS” extensionband); (d) 5150-5250 MHz; (e) 5925-6700 MHz; (f) 22.5-23.6 GHz; (g)24.75-25.5 GHz; or (h) 27-27.5 GHz.

Most UAVs 27 have cameras, microphones and other audiovisual equipmentthat are used to view and collect information objects of interest fromthe air. The audiovisual signals are typically sent from the UAV's 27 toa remote control center for viewing by an operator.

In one specific embodiment, the application 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 dinteracts with UAVs 27 including an application 30 to fly over andtraverse a physical site for a desired project to request product sampleinformation. In such an embodiment, the physical site may be toodangerous for a human to traverse so the UAV 27 is used to automaticallymake product sample requests. However, the present invention is notlimited to a barcode reader application and other applications can alsobe used to practice the invention.

Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)

An unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) 29, 29′ is a vehicle that operateswhile in contact with the ground and without an onboard human presence.UGVs 29, 29′ are used for many applications where it may beinconvenient, dangerous, or impossible to have a human operator presentsuch as construction sites, etc. Generally, the UGV 29, 29′ will have aset of sensors to observe the environment, and will either autonomouslymake decisions about its behavior or pass the information to a humanoperator at a different location who will control the vehicle throughteleoperation. In one embodiment, the UGV 29, 29′ is autonomous.

An “autonomous” UGV 29, 29′ is an autonomous robot that operates withoutthe need for a human controller. The vehicle uses its sensors to developsome limited understanding of the environment, which is then used bycontrol algorithms to determine the next action to take in the contextof a human provided mission goal. This fully eliminates the need for anyhuman to watch over the menial tasks (e.g., requested product samples,etc.) that the UGV 29, 29′ is completing. In such an embodiment, theautonomous UGV 29, 29′ traverses a physical site for a desired project.In such an embodiment, the physical site may be too dangerous for ahuman to traverse, so the UGV 29, 29′ is used to traverse the physicalsite and make automatic product sample requests.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data

“Artificial intelligence” (AI), also known as machine intelligence (MI),is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the naturalintelligence (NI) displayed by humans and other animals. AI research isdefined as the study of “intelligent agents.” Intelligent agents are anysoftware application or hardware device that perceives its environmentand takes actions that maximize its chance of successfully achieving itsgoals. Colloquially, the term “artificial intelligence” is applied whena machine mimics “cognitive” functions that humans associate with humanbrains, such as learning, problem solving and comparing large number ofdata points.

In one embodiment, the present invention uses one or more AI methodsincluding, but are not limited to, AI knowledge-based methods for (1)automatically qualifying a requester of a product sample is eligible toreceive the product sample; (2) automatically determining apre-determined context of request for a product sample with respect to adesired project; (3) automatically scanning a 3D modeling program andautomatically generating product sample requests for virtual componentsin the 3D modeling program for a desired project; (5) automaticallydetermining a time series analysis for analyzing variations in productsample requests from a same source (e.g., multiple e-mails at a samearchitecture firm, etc.) and/or different sources; (6) automaticallycalculating and determining trends from product sample requests; (7)automatically determining multivariate tabular analysis for productsample requests; (8) automatically determining bounding boxes forautomatically determining a size and shape of an appropriate shippingcontainer to enclose all requested product samples. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such an embodiment and more, fewer and/orother AI methods can be used to practice the invention.

Automatically qualifying a requester of a product sample is eligible toreceive the product sample includes automatic AI methods forautomatically reviewing electronic information collected from arequester of a product sample such as is the requester an architect,builder, contractor, designer, engineer and/or a homeowner, do ityourself, etc. requester. Such an automatic method prevents anyrequester from requesting and receiving a large amount of productsamples and using the free product samples to complete a desired projectwithout purchasing the actual products represented by the productsamples and/or requesting such products just because they are curiousand will never use or purchase the actual products, etc. Another aspectof qualifying a requester is determine if the requester is from a largeand/or important requester that may purchase a large number of actualproducts from a manufacturer or product supplier so the requests canreceive special attention and/or additional personal follow-up from themanufacturer or product supplier. Such an automatic method also savestime for sales representatives and money for manufacturers and productsuppliers as they do not have to spend time to call all requesters ofproduct samples as the requesters' eligibility to receive any requestedproduct samples is automatically determined.

For example, one exemplary AI method examines an e-mail address and/ordomain name included in the electronic information collected from arequester. If the e-mail address (e.g., jane@janesmitharchitects.com,etc.) or the domain name (e.g., jonesarch.com, etc.) is from a knownarchitect, construction, design and/or engineering firm, the AI methodwould deem a current requester and/or additional requesters with similare-mail addresses and/or from the same domain name, eligible to receiveproduct samples. However, the present invention is not limited to thequalifying a requester AI method described and other AI methods can beused to practice the invention.

Automatically determining a pre-determined context of a request for aproduct sample with respect to a desired project includes automatic AImethods for automatically determining if a requested product sample isappropriate within a pre-determined context of the desired project. Forexample, if an engineer is working a desired project including a newbridge, the pre-determined context of the project is bridge relatedmaterials and the engineer requested samples of hardwood flooring orroofing shingles, the AI methods would determine the request for theproduct samples are not within the pre-determined context of the desiredproject and automatically request additional information from theengineer, to justify his/her request, etc. This AI method prevents arequester from ordering physical product sample either intentionally orunintentionally that do not fit within a pre-determined context of thedesire project. Such an automatic method also saves time for salesrepresentatives and money for manufacturers and product suppliers asthey do not have to spend time to call requesters of product samples asthe pre-determined context of the product sample requests to receive anyrequested product samples is automatically determined.

However, the present invention is not limited to the context of requestAI method described and other AI methods can be used to practice theinvention.

Automatically scanning a 3D modeling program and automaticallygenerating product sample requests for virtual components in the 3Dmodeling program for a desired project includes automatic AI methods forautomatically scanning virtual components in a 3D modeling program(e.g., BIM program, etc.) for which product sample requests have beendesignated for any virtual component (e.g., stud, siding, flooring,paint, roofing, etc.) in the 3D modeling program. The product samplerequests are activated by scanning a product sample request codesassociated with the virtual component. All such product sample requestsare collected and all product samples are collected and fulfilled forthe entire desired project within the smallest number of shippingcontainers that can contain all the requested product samples. However,the present invention is not limited to the 3D modeling program scanningAI method described and other AI methods can be used to practice theinvention.

Automatically calculating and determining trends from product samplerequests includes AI methods for automatically completing a time seriesanalysis. A “time series” is a series of data points indexed (or e.g.,listed or graphed, etc.) in time order. Most commonly, a time series isa sequence taken at successive equally spaced points in time. Thus, itis a sequence of discrete-time event data. Time series analysiscomprises methods for analyzing time series data in order to extractmeaningful statistics and other characteristics of the data. Time seriesforecasting is the use of a model to predict future values based onpreviously observed values. However, the present invention is notlimited to the time series AI method described and other AI methods canbe used to practice the invention.

Automatically calculating and determining trends from product samplerequests includes AI methods for automatically completing “Multivariatetabular analysis (MVA).” MVA involves observation and analysis of morethan one statistical outcome variable at a time using tables of data. Indesign and analysis, the technique is used to perform studies acrossmultiple dimensions while taking into account the effects of allvariables on the responses of interest. However, the present inventionis not limited to the MVA AI method described and other AI methods canbe used to practice the invention.

Automatically calculating and determining trends from product samplerequests includes AI methods for automatically determining boundingboxes for shipping containers big enough to include all requestedproduct samples and at the same time small enough not to waster shippingcontainer resources (e.g., cardboard, tape, padding, etc.)

A “bounding box,” is the minimum or smallest bounding or enclosing boxfor a set of points (S) in N dimensions. A bounding box is a box withthe smallest measure (e.g., area, volume, or hypervolume in higherdimensions) within which all the set of points D lie. When othermeasures are used, the minimum box is usually called accordingly, e.g.,a “minimum-perimeter bounding box”. The minimum bounding box of a pointset S is the same as the minimum bounding box of its convex hull, a factwhich may be used heuristically to speed up computation. The term “box”or “hyperrectangle” comes from its usage in the Cartesian coordinatesystem, where it is visualized as a rectangle (two-dimensional case),rectangular parallelepiped (three-dimensional case), etc.

An Axis-Aligned minimum Bounding Box (or AABB) for a given point set isits minimum bounding box subject to the constraint that the edges of thebox are parallel to the (e.g., Cartesian, etc.) coordinate axes. It issimply the Cartesian product of N intervals each of which is defined bythe minimal and maximal value of the corresponding coordinate for thepoints in S. Axis-aligned minimal bounding boxes are used to anapproximate locations of objects in question and as a very simpledescriptor of its shape. However, the present invention is not limitedto the bounding box AI method described and other AI methods can be usedto determine an appropriate size and shape of a shipping containerrequired to include all requested product samples.

In one embodiment, SaaS 64 includes and AI application 30 b with the AImethods described herein. In another embodiment, the AI application 30 bis a standalone application. However, the present invention is notlimited to such an embodiment, and the AI application 30 b can beprovided in other than the SaaS 64.

“Big Data” refers to the use of predictive analytic methods that extractvalue from data, and to a particular size of data set. The quantities ofdata used are very large, at least 100,000 data points and moretypically 500,000 to 1 Million+ data points. Analysis of Big Data setsare used to find new correlations and to spot trends.

In one embodiment, the AI methods described herein collect datainformation to create and store (e.g., in cloud storage object 82, etc.)a Big Data that is used to analyze trends find new correlations and tospot trends. However, the present invention is not limited to such anembodiment and the AI methods described herein can be used without BigData sets.

3D Modeling Programs

In one embodiment the selected type of 3D modeling program 45 includes aBuilding Information Modeling (BIM) modeling program. In one specificembodiment, the BIM program includes an AUTODESK REVIT, AUTODESKINVENTOR, AUTOCAD, SKETCHUP, VECTORWORKS, MICROSTATION, ARCHICAD,SOLIDWORKS, and/or PROE, etc. modeling program. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such an embodiment and other 3D modelingprograms 45 can be used to practice the invention.

AUTODESK REVIT, is Building Information Modeling (BIM) software forarchitects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, designers andcontractors. It allows users to design a building and structure and itscomponents in 3D, annotate the model with 2D drafting elements andaccess building information from the building models database. REVIT is4D BIM capable with tools to plan and track various stages in thebuilding's lifecycle, from concept to construction and later demolition.

AUTODESK INVENTOR, is a 3D mechanical CAD design software for creating3D digital prototypes used in the design, visualization and simulationof products.

AUTOCAD is a software application for 2D and 3D computer-aided design(CAD) and drafting. It has been available since 1982 as a desktopapplication and since 2010 as a mobile web- and cloud-based application,currently marketed as AUTOCAD 360.

VECTORWORKS is a computer-aided design (CAD) and Building InformationModeling (BIM) software program developed by Nemetschek. VECTORWORKSthat is used for drafting, technical drawing and 3D modeling.VECTORWORKS offers 2D, 3D, production management, and presentationcapabilities for all phases of the design process.

BENTLEY SYSTEM, INC, is a software company that produces solutions forthe design, construction and operation of infrastructure. The company'ssoftware serves the building, plant, civil, and geospatial markets inthe areas of architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) andoperations. Their software solutions are used to design, engineer,build, and operate large constructed assets such as roadways, railways,bridges, buildings, industrial and power plants and utility networks.

BENTLEY'S principal software solution is MICROSTATION. MIRCOSTATION is adesktop 2D/3D CAD platform upon which BENTLEY and third-party softwarecompanies build more specific solutions. For example, BENTLY MAP is anextension from BENTLEY that runs on top of MICROSTATION adding GraphicInformation System (GIS) and spatial capabilities to the CAD program.

The latest versions of MICROSTATION are released solely for MICROSOFTWINDOWS operating systems, but historically MICROSTATION was availablefor APPLE MACINTOSH platforms and a number of UNIX-like operatingsystems. MICROSTATION is the platform architectural and engineeringsoftware package developed by BENTLEY SYSTEMS, Incorporated. Among anumber of things, it generates 2D/3D vector graphic objects andelements.

BENTLEY is also a provider of Building information modeling (BIM)solutions for the Architecture, Structural, Mechanical and Electricalengineering disciplines. BENTLEY also provides GENERATIVE COMPONENTS, aparametric modeling solution used primarily by architects and engineersin building design.

ARCHICAD is an architectural BIM CAD software for APPLE MACINTOSH andMicrosoft Windows developed by the Hungarian company GRAPHISOFT.ARCHICAD offers specialized solutions for handling all common aspects ofaesthetics and engineering during the whole design process of the builtenvironment—buildings, interiors, urban areas, etc.

Development of ARCHICAD started in 1982 for the original APPLEMACINTOSH. ARCHICAD is recognized as the first CAD product on a personalcomputer able to create both 2D drawings and parametric 3Dgeometry.^([1]) In its debut in 1987 ARCHICAD also became the firstimplementation of BIM under GRAPHISOFT's “Virtual Building” concept.

SOLIDWORKS is a 3D mechanical CAD program that runs on MICROSOFT WINDOWSand is developed by DASSAULT SYSTÈMES SOLIDWORKS CORP., a subsidiary ofDASSAULT SYSTÈMES, S. A. (Vélizy, France).

TC CREO, formerly known as PRO/ENGINEER or PRO/E is a parametric,integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE solution created by PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGYCORPORATION (PTC). It was the first to market with parametric,feature-based, associative solid modeling software. The application runson MICROSOFT WINDOWS platform, and provides solid modeling, assemblymodeling and drafting, finite element analysis, Direct and Parametricmodeling, Sub-divisional and nurbs surfacing and NC and toolingfunctionality for mechanical engineers.

SKETCHUP (Formerly: GOOGLE SKETCHUP) is a 3D modeling program forapplications such as architectural, interior design, civil andmechanical engineering, film, and video game design. A freeware version,SKETCHUP MAKE, and a paid version with additional functionality,SKETCHUP PRO, are available.

There is an online Open source repository of free-of-charge modelassemblies (e.g., windows, doors, automobiles, etc.), 3D WAREHOUSE, towhich users may contribute models. The program includes drawing layoutfunctionality, allows surface rendering in variable “styles”, supportsthird-party “plug-in” programs hosted on a site called ExtensionWarehouse to provide other capabilities (e.g., near photo-realisticrendering), and enables placement of its models within GOOGLE EARTH.

SKETCHUP can export 3D to Digital Asset Exchange, .DAE and GOOGLEEARTH's Keyhole Markup Language, .KMZ file format. The Pro versionextends exporting support to include the AUTOCAD 3D STUDIO DOS, .3DS,AUTOCAD DRAWING, .DWG, AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Interchange Format, orDrawing Exchange Format), .DFX, KAYDARA Filmbox, .FBX, Object geometrydefinition, .OBJ, AUTODESK Softimage, .XSK, and Virtual Reality ModelingLanguage .WRL, file formats. GOOGLE SKETCHUP can also save elevations orrenderings of the model, called “screenshots”, as Bitmap, .BMP, PortableNetwork Graphics, .PNG, JPEG, .JPG, Tagged Image File Format, .TIF, withthe Pro version also supporting Portable Document Format, .PDF,Encapsulated Postscript, .EPS and .EPX, Drawing, .DWG, and AUTOCADDrawing Exchange format, .DXF.

An AUTODESK REVIT Family File is stored in an RFA format and is affixedwith a .RFA extension. These RFA files are generally classified as datafiles that include one or more 3D models that can be imported into athree dimensional scene and were created and saved using the RevitFamily Editor. RFA files contain BIM (Building Information Modeling)data and require Autodesk Revit software. These files are also known asan AUTODESK REVIT file. The AUTODESK REVIT software is used byarchitects and engineers to design and model. The REVIT model is basedon a compilation of items called “families” The compiled items refer tothe parametric objects such as 3D building objects and two dimensionaldrafting objects.

RVT file formatted files with a .RVT extension are data files primarilyassociated with a Reference View Table. RVT files are also associatedwith AUTODESK REVIT Design Setup File, INCITE Media Assistant File, IEXWorkforce Management Report, APACHE RIVET Tcl File and FILEVIEWPRO.

DWG file formatted files (i.e., DraWinG) with a .DWG extension are abinary file format used for storing two and three dimensional designdata and metadata. It is the native format for several CAD packagesincluding DRAFTSIGHT, AUTOCAD, INTELLICAD (and its variants) and CADDIE.In addition, DWG is supported non-natively by many other CADapplications. The .BAK (drawing backup), .DWS (drawing standards), .DWT(drawing template) and .SV$ (temporary automatic save) files are alsoDWG files.

MCD and/or VWX formatted files with a. MCD and/or a. VWX extension arefile formats used for storing two and three dimensional design data andmetadata for VECTORWORKS.

In addition, using the present invention two or more companies willfacilitate work process interoperability between their applicationsthrough supporting the reciprocal use of available ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (APIs) and the new 3D models created hereinincluding an API for automatically fulfilling architecture, design orconstruction product samples.

The present invention has been described for building informationmodeling (BIM) models and modeling programs. However, the presentinvention is not limited to BIM models and modeling programs and can beused for other types of modeling and design programs that are used forother types of engineering projects (e.g., airplanes, motors, engines,automobiles, ships, trains, etc.).

In one embodiment, a generic 3D object model template is a template fora specific type of 3D modeling object used by architects, builders,engineers, interior designer, scientists, etc. For examples, the generic3D object template used by an architect, builder, etc. may be for door,window, beam, truss, flooring, paint, siding, etc. The specific type of3D object may be a pre-hung door eight feet high, three feet wide, solidcore, made of maple wood, stained light brown in color, etc. The generictype of 3D object templates used by engineers may be pipelinecomponents, components of automobiles, trucks, boats, electronic devicecomponents, components for multi-layered boards, etc. The generic typeof 3D object templates used by interior designers may be furniture, wallhangings, works of art, statutes, etc. However, the present invention isnot limited to such embodiments and other blank generic 3D objecttemplates can be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the generic 3D object templates are used todynamically replace the generic 3D object templates with specific 3Dobject product templates to select a product sample from a specific anddesired manufacturer and/or product supplier. This replacement allowsarchitects, builders, engineers, interior designer, scientists, etc. torequest product samples of building, construction and/or designproducts.

For example, a generic 3D object template for a window may be replacedwith a specific 3D object product template for an MARVIN, etc. windows.A generic 3D object template for a wall covering (e.g., paint, etc.) maybe replaced with a specific 3D object product template for PPG, etc.paint. The specific 3D object product templates allow the architects,builders, engineers, interior designer, scientists, etc. to directlyrequest product samples of building, construction and/or design productsdirectly from the 3D modeling program and/or BIM programs.

In one exemplary embodiment, XML mark-up language is used to makeproduct sample requests. However, the present invention is not limitedto such an embodiment and other mark-up and/or other non-mark-uplanguages can be used to practice the invention.

An “XML schema” is a description of a type of XML document, typicallyexpressed in terms of constraints on the structure and content ofdocuments of that type, above and beyond the basic syntacticalconstraints imposed by XML itself. These constraints are generallyexpressed using some combination of grammatical rules governing theorder of elements, Boolean predicates that the content must satisfy,data types governing the content of elements and attributes, and morespecialized rules such as uniqueness and referential integrityconstraints.

There are languages developed specifically to express XML schemas. TheDocument Type Definition (DTD) language, which is native to the XMLspecification, is a schema language that is of relatively limitedcapability, but that also has other uses in XML aside from theexpression of schemas.

In one embodiment, a library application and a Dynamic Link Library(DLL) application is used to make product sample requests. However, thepresent invention is not limited to such an embodiment and other typesof library applications can be used to practice the invention.

A Dynamic-link library (DLL), is Microsoft's implementation of theshared library concept in the MICROSOFT WINDOWS and OS/2 operatingsystems. These libraries usually have the file extension. DLL, .OCX (forlibraries containing ActiveX controls), or .DRV (for legacy systemdrivers). The file formats for DLLs are the same as for WINDOWS EXEfiles—that is, Portable Executable (PE) for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows,and New Executable (NE) for 16-bit WINDOWS. As with EXEs, DLLs cancontain code, data, and resources, in any combination.

Data files with the same file format as a DLL, but with different fileextensions and possibly containing only resource sections, can be calledresource DLLs. Examples of such DLLs include icon libraries, sometimeshaving the extension .ICL, and font files, having the extensions .FONand .FOT.

In another embodiment, the library application includes Dynamic LibraryLoading. This is a mechanism by which a computer program can, at runtime, dynamically load a library (or other binary) into memory, retrievethe addresses of functions and variables contained in the library,execute those functions or access those variables, and unload thelibrary from memory. Unlike static linking and load time linking, thismechanism allows a computer program to startup in the absence of theselibraries, to discover available libraries, and to potentially gainadditional functionality. However, the present invention is not limitedto such an embodiment and other types of library applications can beused to practice the invention.

Automatically Fulfilling Building, Construction and Design ProductSample Requests

An architecture, design or construction product sample is small portionof the product sent to requesters. The product sample requester is ableto determine a look, feel, color, texture, suitability for a desiredproject. Architects, interior designers, engineers, scientists, etc. allbenefit from obtaining actual samples of building, construction anddesign materials. For example, an interior designer may request multiplecarpet samples, multiple paint samples, multiple wall paper samples, fora design project. An architect may request multiple door and windowsamples, roofing samples, siding samples, etc. for a desired project.When product samples of large items such as doors and windows, etc. arerequested, typically a small cut-away portion, etc. of the whole productis provided as the sample. It is important to allow architects, interiordesigners, engineers, scientists, etc. to easily, efficiently andautomatically request and receive building, construction and designproduct samples.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are a flow diagram illustrating a Method 106 forautomatically fulfilling architecture, design or construction productsample requests. In FIG. 7A at Step 108, one or more first messages arereceived on a product sample management application on a server networkdevice with one or more processors via a communications network from anetwork device with one or more processors. The one or more firstrequest messages include one or more requests for plural differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical product samples for adesired project. At Step 110, a test is conducted to determineautomatically from the product sample management application on theserver network device with an artificial intelligence (AI) applicationand a first set AI methods: (1) whether the network device requestingthe plural different architecture, design or construction physicalproduct samples is qualified to receive the plural differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical product samples for thedesired project, and (2) whether the one or more requests for the pluraldifferent architecture, design or construction, physical product samplesfor the desired project are included in a pre-determined project contextfor the desired project. If the answer to the test at Step 110 is no, atStep 112, the product sample management application sends a rejectionmessage to the network device via the communications network rejectingthe one or more requests for the plural different architecture, designor construction physical product samples. If the answer to the test inFIG. 7A at Step 110 is yes, in FIG. 7B at Step 114, determiningautomatically from the product sample management application which ofthe plural architecture, design or construction, physical productsamples are: (1) are currently available as physical product samples;(2) require three-dimensional (3D) printing; or (3) require fabrication.At Step 116, the product sample management application request anyselected ones of the plural different architecture, design orconstruction, physical product samples currently available be collectedand sent to a pre-determined physical location for shipping. At Step118, a first processing message is sent from the product samplemanagement application via the communications network to one or morethree-dimensional (3D) printers to 3D print any selected ones of theplural different architecture, design or construction product samplesthat require 3D printing and to collect and send to the pre-determinedphysical location any 3D printed product samples for shipping. In FIG.7C at Step 120, a second processing message is sent from the productsample management application via the communications network to one ormore fabrication machines and/or robots to fabricate any selected onesof the plural different architecture, design or construction productsamples that require fabrication and collect and send to thepre-determined physical location any fabricated samples for shipping. AtStep 122, the product sample management application determines with the(AI) application and a second set of one or more AI methods anappropriate size and shape for a shipping container required to includethe all the requested architecture, design or construction productsamples currently available as physical product samples, the 3D printedproduct samples and the fabricated product samples for the desiredproject. In FIG. 7D at Step 124, a third processing message is sent fromthe product sample management application via the communications networkto a shipping container machine with one or more processors for: (1)automatically creating or selecting the shipping container, (2)automatically adding a plural different product sample barcodes to therequested architecture, design or construction, physical productsamples, the plural different product sample barcodes including a codedelectronic link to access product information about the requestedarchitecture, design or construction physical product samples via thecommunications network, (3) automatically adding the interior of theshipping container one or more other barcodes including another codedelectronic link to confirm which requested architecture, design orconstruction physical product samples are included in the shippingcontainer, (4) automatically adding to the exterior of the shippingcontainer design information visually indicating the shipping containerincludes architecture, design or construction product samples, whereinevery shipping container created includes a same design information, and(5) automatically adding to the exterior of the shipping containerproduct branding for the architecture, design or construction productsamples available as physical product samples, the 3D printed productsamples and the fabricated product samples requested by the targetnetwork device. All the requested architecture, design or constructionproduct samples available as physical product samples, the 3D printedproduct samples and the fabricated product samples for the desiredproject are collected and sealed within the shipping container at thepre-determined physical location. At Step 126, a response message issent from the product sample management application via thecommunications network to the network device including a verificationthat the request for the plural different architecture, design orconstruction product samples for the desired project has been processedand shipped and including shipping information for the shippingcontainer.

Method 106 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 7A at Step 108, a product samplemanagement application 30 a on a server network device 20 with one ormore processors receives one or more requests messages via acommunications network 18, 18′ from a network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26 with one or more processors. The one or morefirst request messages include one or more requests 13/15 for pluraldifferent architecture, design or construction, physical product samplesfor a desired project.

In one embodiment, the first message is generated on a 3D modelingprogram 45. In one embodiment the 3D modeling program 45 includes a BIMprogram 45 a with a BIM product sample management application 30 d.

In one embodiment, the BIM program 45 a includes an AUTODESK REVITprogram, an AUTOCAD program, a VECTORWORKS program, a MICROSTATIONprogram, an ARCHICAD program, and/or a SKETCHUP program.

In one embodiment, the BIM program 45 a includes a BIM product samplemanagement application 30 d that allows a product sample request code 55to be added to a virtual design component in the BIM program (e.g.,stud, door, window, flooring, siding, paint, etc.) representing anactual architecture, design or construction component available from amanufacturer or product supplier for which a physical product sample maybe requested and obtained. (FIG. 12 ). In such an embodiment, theproduct sample request code 55 includes, but is not limited to abarcode, a BIM specific numerical code and/or other type of productcode. The BIM product sample management application 30 d automaticallyalso automatically scans all design components in the BIM program 45 forthe desired project to determine which include a product sample requestcode 55 representing the actual architecture, design or constructioncomponent available from the manufacturers or product suppliers forwhich the physical product samples may be requested and obtained.

In one embodiment, the BIM program 45 includes an ArtificialIntelligence (AI) application 30 b that automatically adds productsample request codes 55 to virtual design components in the BIM program45 and generates the first message by scanning all virtual designcomponents in the BIM program 45 for the desired project to determinewhich of the another design components representing the actualarchitecture, design or construction component available from themanufacturers or product suppliers for which the physical productsamples may be requested and obtained. In such an embodiment, theproduct sample codes includes, but is not limited to a barcode, a BIMnumerical codes and/or other codes. In such an embodiment, the AIapplication 30 b also completes a scan of the virtual components in theBIM program and collects requests for the physical product samples forthe desired project and allows all the requested physical productsamples to be sent at one time, in as few shipping containers aspossible. For example, if an architect was designing a single familyresidence house, the AI application 30 b collects requests for all thephysical product samples requested for the single family residence withthe scan (e.g., siding, roofing, paint, carpet, hardwood flooring,etc.). However, the present invention is not limited to this embodimentand the AI program 30 b in the BIM program 45 can include otherfunctionality to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the BIM program 45 includes an ArtificialIntelligence (AI) application 30 b that automatically generates thefirst message for the plural different architecture, design orconstruction, physical product samples for the desired project based onlearned preferences and/or prior requested preferences of an architect,designer or engineer using the BIM program 45.

In another embodiment, the first message is received at Step 108 from aproduct page application 30 c including plural graphical product sampleordering buttons 21 (only one of which is illustrated for simplicity)for an architecture, design or construction, product for which aphysical product sample may be obtained wherein the network deviceincludes another server network device 22, 24, 26 with one or moreprocessors including a manufacturer web-site 24 and/or a supplierweb-site 24. (FIG. 9 ).

In another embodiment, the first messages received at Step 108 from anetwork device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26 on which adigital copy (e.g., PDF file, etc.) of Architectural Graphic Standardsbook 59 is being viewed. The Architectural Graphic Standards is thewritten authority for architects, designers, engineers and buildingcontractors. It provides comprehensive guidance on the visualrepresentation of materials, products, systems, and assemblies. In suchan embodiment, electronic product request codes 55 have beenautomatically added to the Architectural Graphic Standards book by theproduct sample management application 30 a to allow any physical productsamples 37 available for the materials, products, systems, andassemblies included in the Architectural Graphic Standards digital book,other standards book and/or architecture, design or construction productcatalog or product sheets, to be automatically requested and fulfilledvia the product sample management application 30 a.

In another embodiment, the product sample management application 30 aautomatically adds electronic product sample request codes 55 to digitalcopies of other standards book and/or catalogs and/or product sheets 59a to automatically request physical product samples 37 of associatedarchitecture, design or construction products available for sale whensuch digital copies are viewed on a network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26. However, the present invention is not limited tosuch an embodiment and other embodiments can be used to practice theinvention.

In one embodiment, the communications network 18, 18′ further includesone or more AI servers 26 with one or processors to apply pre-processingwith the first set AI methods applied at Steps 110 and 112 to allrequest messages received from the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26 requesting the plural different architecture,design or construction, physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b for thedesired project before the request messages are received on the productsample management application 30 a on the server network device 20.

However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments andmore, fewer or other embodiments can be used to practice the invention.

Returning to FIG. 7A at Step 110, a test is conducted automatically fromthe product sample management application 30 a on the server networkdevice 20 with an artificial intelligence (AI) application 30 b and afirst set AI methods to determine (1) whether the network device 12, 14,16, 27, 29, 31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26 requesting the plural differentarchitecture, design or construction physical product samples isqualified to receive the plural different architecture, design orconstruction, physical product samples for the desired project, and (2)whether the one or more requests for the plural different architecture,design or construction, physical product samples for the desired projectare included in a pre-determined project context for the desiredproject.

If the answer to the test at Step 110 is no, at Step 112, the productsample management application 30 a sends a rejection message to thenetwork device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26 via thecommunications network 18, 18′ rejecting the one or more requests 13/15for the plural different architecture, design or construction physicalproduct samples 37, 37 a, 37 b.

If the answer to the test at Step 110 is yes, in FIG. 7B at Step 114,the product sample management application 30 a on the server networkdevice 20 determines which of the plural architecture, design orconstruction product samples are: (1) are currently available asphysical product samples; (2) require three-dimensional (3D) printing;or (3) require fabrication.

In one embodiment the AI application 30 b on the product samplemanagement application 30 a automatically generates plural processingmessages based on learned preferences or learned requests received fromplural different manufacturer web-sites and supplier web-sites andstored in a Big Data set. For example, a first manufacturer always keepsits supply of physical product samples in stock and up to date at apre-determined physical location 144. A first supplier requires all ofits physical product samples be 3D printed and/or fabricated, etc.

In another embodiment the AI application 30 b on the product samplemanagement application 30 b automatically generates plural processingmessages based on learned preferences or learned requests received fromplural different architects, designers and engineers and stored in a BigData set. For example, a first architect may always request a specificsame type of hardwood flooring samples, a second architect may alwaysrequest a specific same type of siding, etc.

In one embodiment, the communications network 18, 18′ further includesone or more AI servers 26 with one or processors to apply pre-processingwith the first set AI methods applied at Steps 110 and 112 to allrequest messages received from the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26 requesting the plural different architecture,design or construction, physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b for thedesired project before the request messages are received on the productsample management application 30 a on the server network device 20.

However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments andother types of AI actions or non-AI actions can be used to practice theinvention.

Returning to FIG. 7B at Step 116, the product sample managementapplication 30 a requests any selected ones of the plural differentarchitecture, design or construction product samples that are currentlyavailable as physical product samples 37 be collected and sent to apre-determined physical location 144 for shipping.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram 142 illustrating a pre-determined physicallocation 144 for automatically fulfilling architecture, design orconstruction product sample 37, 37 a, 37 b requests.

For example, if a requested architecture, design or construction productsample 37, 37′, 37″, 37′″ has already been supplied by the manufacturerand/or product supplier and shipped to the pre-determined location 148,it will be collected from another location within the pre-determinedlocation 148 (e.g., from a warehouse 150, etc.) and sent to thepre-determined physical location 148 (e.g., a shipping and receivingarea, etc.) for shipping. Such architecture, design or constructionproduct samples 37 had been previously provided by the manufacturerand/or product supplier for shipping to requesters.

At Step 118, a first processing message is sent from the product samplemanagement application 30 a via the communications network 18, 18′ toone or more three-dimensional (3D) printers 39 with one or moreprocessors to 3D print any selected ones of the plural differentarchitecture, design or construction product samples 37 a that require3D printing and to collect and send to the pre-determined physicallocation 148 any 3D printed product samples 37 a for shipping. In suchan embodiment, a manufacturer or product supplier provides electronicfiles to allow the product sample management application 30 a toinitiate 3D printing of a desired product sample. In such an embodiment,the manufacturer or product supplier enter into a contract or otherlegal agreement to allow 3D printing of request product samples. In suchan embodiment, 3D printing of requested product samples is more costeffective than the manufacturer or product supplier shipping aninventory of product samples to the warehouse 150 at the pre-determinedlocation 148 of the product management application 30 a server networkdevice 20. In one embodiment, if no requested product samples require 3Dprinting, then the first processing message is not sent by the productsample management application 30 a. However, the present invention isnot limited to such an embodiment.

In FIG. 7C at Step 120, a second processing message is sent from theproduct sample management application 30 a via the communicationsnetwork 18, 18′ to one or more manufacturing/fabrication machines 35 orrobots 41 each with one or more processors to manufacture and/orfabricate any selected ones of the plural different architecture, designor construction product samples 37 b, 37 b′ (fabricated with robot 41,etc.) that require fabrication and collect and send to thepre-determined physical location 148 any fabricated samples 37 b forshipping. In such an embodiment, the manufacturer or product supplierenter into a contract or other legal agreement to allow fabrication ofrequest product samples. In such an embodiment, automatic fabrication ofrequested product samples is more cost effective than the manufactureror product supplier shipping an inventory of product samples to thewarehouse 150 at the pre-determined location 148 of the productmanagement application 30 a server network device 20. In one embodiment,if no requested product samples require fabrication, then the secondprocessing message is not sent by the product sample managementapplication 30 a. However, the present invention is not limited to suchan embodiment.

At Step 122, product sample management application 30 a determines withthe (AI) application 30 b and a second set of one or more AI methods anappropriate size and shape for a shipping container 51 required toinclude the all the requested architecture, design or constructionproduct samples available as physical product samples 37, the 3D printedproduct samples 37 a and the fabricated product samples 37 b for thedesired project.

In one embodiment, the second set of one or more AI methods includes abounding box AI method. However, the present invention is not limited tothis embodiment and other AI methods can be used to practice theinvention.

In such an embodiment, a bounding box is determined to enclose all theproduct samples 37, 37 a, 37 b requested for the desired project. Thebounding box may be calculated: (1) using electronic dimensions of theproduct samples provided by the product sample management application 30b that are obtained from the manufacturers and/or product suppliers; (2)dimensions of any product samples 3D printed 37 a and/or fabricated 37 band/or (3) from digital photographs collected and analyzed of all theproduct samples 37, 37 a, 37 b requested for the desired project.However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment andother bounding box methods and/or other methods used to determine a sizeand shape of a shipping container can be used to practice the invention

The bounding box information is then used to determine a size and shapeof an actual shipping container 51 that is large enough to ship allproduct samples 37, 37 a, 37 b requested for the desired project andsmall enough not to waste and shipping container 51 resources (e.g.,cardboard, tape, padding, etc.).

In one embodiment, the shipping container 51 is created as a customshipping container 51 including pre-determined branding information fora selected manufacturer and/or product supplier who pays an additionalfee to have such custom shipping containers 51 created for shippingrequested all product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b for the desired project.For example, a supplier of a new architecture, design or constructionproduct may desire to have custom shipping containers 51 created for allproduct samples 37, 37 a, 37 b for all desired projects requested on theproduct sample management application 30′ on the server network device20 and/or desire to have custom shipping containers 51 created only forshipping their own product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b, etc. when they arerequested from the product sample management application 30′ on theserver network device 20. However, the present invention, is not limitedto such embodiments and other embodiments can be used to practice theinvention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram 152 illustrating an exemplary shippingcontainer 51 including automatically fulfilling architecture, design orconstruction product samples.

In FIG. 7D at Step 124, a third processing message is sent from theproduct sample management application 30 a via the communicationsnetwork 18, 18′ to a shipping container machine 49 with one or moreprocessors for (1) automatically creating or selecting the shippingcontainer 51, (2) automatically adding a plural different product samplebarcodes 154 to the requested architecture, design or constructionphysical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b (illustrated in FIG. 12 as onlya hardwood flooring physical product sample 37 for simplicity), theplural different physical product sample barcodes 154 including a codedelectronic link to access product information 156 about the requestedarchitecture, design or construction physical product samples via thecommunications network 18, 18′, (3) automatically adding the interior ofthe shipping container 51 one or more other barcodes 158 includinganother coded electronic link to confirm which requested architecture,design or construction physical product samples are included in theshipping container 51, (4) automatically adding to the exterior of theshipping container 51 design information 160 visually indicating theshipping container 51 includes architecture, design or constructionproduct samples, 37, 37 a, 37 b wherein every shipping container 51created includes a same design information 160, and (5) automaticallyadding to the exterior of the shipping container 51 (e.g., sides, top,etc.) product branding 162 for the architecture, design or constructionproduct samples available as physical product samples 37, the 3D printedproduct samples 37 a and the fabricated product samples 37 b requestedby the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31, 98-104, 22, 24, 26.

In one embodiment, the product branding 162 includes additional itemsadded to the shipping container 51 such as gift cards, giftcertificates, coupons, for actual physical products associated with therequested physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b and/or for otherproducts not related to the physical product samples 37 or actualphysical products (e.g., gift cards for coffee shop, restaurant, spa,gift items (e.g., coffee cups, key chains, clothing, etc.) etc.). Inanother embodiment, the product branding 162 includes “white label”branding of the product samples. A “white-label” branding is branding aproduct and/or service produced by one company (the producer) that othercompanies (the marketers) rebrand to make it appear as if they actuallymake it and/or provide it. The requested architecture, design orconstruction product samples available as physical product samples 37,the 3D printed product samples 37 a and the fabricated product samples37 b for the desired project are collected and sealed within theshipping container 51 at the pre-determined physical location 148.

In one embodiment, the shipping container 51 is automatically created bya shipping container machine 49. For example, the shipping containermachine selects a piece of cardboard and cuts and folds the cardboardinto a shipping container of the determined size and shape to hold allof the requested product samples. If the requested product samples willfit into a shipping container 51 that already exists as one of pluralstandard sizes shipping containers 51 (e.g., standard size shippingboxes) then such a shipping container 51 is selected instead of beingcreated.

A “barcode” 154 is an optical machine-readable representation of data,which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally,barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacing of parallellines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional (1D). Laterthey evolved into rectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometricpatterns in 2 dimensions (2D). Although 2D systems use a variety ofsymbols, they are generally referred to as barcodes as well. Barcodesoriginally were scanned by special—optical scanners called barcodereaders, scanners and interpretive software are available on networkdevices.

In one embodiment, the bar code 154 includes a Quick Response (QR) code17 (FIG. 1 ). A “QR Code” is a specific matrix barcode 154 (ortwo-dimensional code), readable by dedicated QR barcode readers andcamera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a squarepattern on a white background. The information encoded can be text,electronic links such as URLs and/or other data. QR codes are defined inISO/IEC 18004:2006 Information technology—Automatic identification anddata capture techniques—QR Code 2005 barcode symbology specification, 1Sep. 2006, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. However,the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and othertypes of barcodes can be used to practice the invention.

QR codes are also used to display text, contact information, productinformation connect to a wireless network, open a web page, open adigital document, and/or initiate a communications event over the cloudcommunications network 18 (e.g., voice call, data call, etc.) ornon-cloud communications network. This act of linking from physicalworld objects is known as a “hard-link” or “physical world hyperlinks.”

In one embodiment, the plural different physical product sample barcodes154 are used to create and track a catalog of requested physical productsamples 37, 37 a, 37 b that can be used to create multiple pitch/sampleboards. In such an embodiment, the catalog is also used to determine ifa requested physical product sample 37, 37 a, 37 b has been requestedand should not be re-requested. In addition, the plural differentphysical product sample barcodes 154 are used to access the codedelectronic link to access product information 156 about the requestedarchitecture, design or construction physical product samples via thecommunications network 18, 18′. The physical product sample barcodes 154are used at a present time or future time to determine if an actualdesired architecture, design or construction product associated with thearchitecture, design or construction physical product sample, is stillavailable from the manufacturer or product supplier or has beendiscontinued. The other barcodes 158 including on the insider ofshipping container 51 are used to confirm which requested architecture,design or construction, physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b areincluded in the shipping container 51, so a requester can track whichrequested physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b have actually beenreceived. The plural different physical product sample barcodes 154 andthe other barcodes are also used to collect and track additional datafor product sample analytics (FIG. 12 ) when the coded electronic linksin the barcodes 154, 158 are activated and information requests made viathe communications network 18, 18′.

In one embodiment, adding the physical product sample barcodes 154 toall of the requested architecture, design or construction, physicalproduct samples 37, 37 a, 37 b allows 24/7/365 access to productinformation 156 about the requested architecture, design or constructionphysical product samples via the communications network 18, 18′. Inanother embodiment, the barcodes 154 automatically generate a voice ordata call (e.g., Voice over IP (VoIP), etc.) or establish an electronictext (e.g., short message service (SMS), etc.) or chat/video chatconnection to sales representative 164 for the desired product sample.In such an embodiment, a manufacturer or product supplier can change,update or replace the product information 156 when required so theproduct information 156 is always up to date and/or indicate a desiredproduct has been discontinued, etc. In addition, such an embodimentallows the provider and shipper of the physical product samples 37, 37a, 37 b and the manufacturer or product supplier of the physical productsamples 37, 37 a, 37 b to save significant amounts of money by nothaving to print on paper and ship product documentation such as productsheets and/or product catalogs which can add significant weight to theshipping container 51, which increases shipping costs and/or increase asize and shipping of the shipping container 51, making the shippingcontainer 51 more expensive to create. The manufacturer or productsupplier of the physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b can make productsheets and product catalogs available electronically via thecommunications network 18, 18′ in electronic format (e.g., PortableDocument Format (PDF), etc.) for on-demand electronic viewing and/orelectronic downloading.

In FIG. 7D at Step 126, a response message is sent from the productsample management application 30 a via the communications network 18,18′ to the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31, 98-104 including averification that the request for the plural different architecture,design or construction product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b for the desiredproject has been processed and shipped and including shippinginformation for the shipping container 51.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 128 for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, building and design, physical product samplerequests. At Step 130, a BIM product sample management application isprovided for a BIM program on the network device for requesting anarchitecture, design or construction product sample. At Step 132, one ormore first requests messages are received from BIM product samplemanagement application on the product sample management application viathe communications network, the one or more first request messagesinclude a request for plural different architecture, design orconstruction, physical product samples for a design project.

Method 128 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

At Step 130, a BIM product sample management application 30 d isprovided for a BIM program 45 on the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31 98-104 for requesting an architecture, design or construction productsample 37, 37 a, 37 b.

At Step 132, one or more first request messages are received (e.g., Step108, Method 106, FIG. 7 ) from BIM product sample management application30 d on the product sample management application 30 a via thecommunications network 18, 18′, the first one or more first requestmessages include a request for plural different architecture, design orconstruction, physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b for a designproject.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 134 for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, building and design, physical product samplerequests. At Step 136, a product page application for plural productpages on a manufacturer web-site or product supplier web-site eachincluding a server network device with one or more processors forrequesting an architecture, design or construction product. At Step 138,one or more first messages are received from the product pageapplication on the product sample management application via thecommunications network, the one or more first request messages include arequest for plural different architecture, design or constructionphysical product samples for a design project.

Method 134 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment at Step 136, a product page application30 c including a graphical product sample ordering button 21 for pluralproduct pages on a manufacturer web-site or product supplier web-siteeach including a server network device 26 each with one or moreprocessors for requesting an architecture, design or constructionproduct sample.

At Step 138, one or more first request messages are received (e.g., atStep 108 of Method 106, FIG. 7 ) from the product page application 30 con the product sample management application 30 a via the communicationsnetwork 18, 18′, the one or more first request messages include arequest for plural different architecture, design or construction,physical product samples 37, 37 a, 37 b, for a desired project.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 140 for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction product sample requests.At Step 142, the product sample management application on the servernetwork device collects, analytic information including individualmetrics for geographic analysis of product sample requests, type ofproduct sample requests, product sample trends and inventory controlalerts when inventory of product samples reaches a pre-determined levelat the pre-determined location. At Step 144, the product samplemanagement application on the server network device provides ananalytics report displayable on a graphical display component of servernetwork device.

Method 140 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

At Step 142, the product sample management application 30 a on theserver network device 20 collects analytic information includingindividual metrics for geographic analysis of product sample requests,type of product sample requests, product sample Return on Investment(ROI), product sample trends and inventory control alerts when inventoryof product samples reaches a pre-determined level at the pre-determinedlocation. However, the present invention is not limited to the analyticinformation described and more, fewer and/or other types of analyticinformation can be collected to practice the invention.

At Step 144 the product sample management application 30 a on the servernetwork device 20 provides an analytics report 53 displayable on agraphical display component 34 of server network device 20.

A method and system for automatically ordering and fulfillingarchitecture, design or construction product sample requests. Productsample request codes are added to 3D modeling programs, product pages,digital copies of standards books, product catalogs or product sheets.The product sample codes are used with artificial intelligence (AI)methods to automatically order and fulfill requests for architecture,design or construction product samples. The requested architecture,design or construction product samples are collected and shipped in ashipping container that includes graphical and other information thatvisually and consistently indicates the shipping container includesrequested architecture, design or construction product samples. Theshipping containers for the requested architecture, design orconstruction product samples may also include product branding for themanufactures or product suppliers of the requested architecture, designor construction product samples.

Automatically Fulfilling Architecture, Design or Construction PhysicalProduct Requests

In addition to requesting samples of architecture, design orconstruction products for a desired project, actual architecture, designor construction, physical products for the desired project arerequested, sent without charge and/or purchased by activating bar codesadded to digital or paper copies of paper and/or digital copies ofproduct swatches, product pages, product sheets, product catalogs,product sheets, standards books and/or other product informationsources.

Product request codes such as bar codes, including, but not limited to,Quick Response (QR) bar codes are added to virtual components in 3Dmodeling programs, paper and/or digital copies of product swatches,product pages, product sheets, product catalogs, product sheets,standards books and/or other product information sources. In oneembodiment, the product request bar codes are automatically added with aproduct sample management application to digital copies of productswatches, product pages, product sheets, product catalogs, productsheets, standards books and/or other product information sources and/orlaser engraved and/or laser etched directly on product samples and/oractual physical products. When the bar codes are activated,architecture, design or construction products are automatically added toa shopping cart and/or shopping bag for electronic purchase and/or forelectronic request without charge.

FIGS. 13A-13B are a flow diagram illustrating a Method 166 forautomatically fulfilling architecture, design or construction physicalproduct requests.

In FIG. 13A at Step 168, receiving one or more request messages on aproduct sample management application on a server network device withone or more processors via a communications network from a networkdevice with one or more processors. The one or more request messagesincluding one or more bar code activation requests for the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products and/orproduct samples for a desired project. The one or more request messagesincluding one or more product purchase requests for the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products and/orproduct samples for the desired project. At Step 170, addingautomatically from the product sample management application on theserver network device the one or more requests for the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products and/orproduct samples for the desired project to a purchasing component. AtStep 172, adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication on the server network device to the purchasing component oneor more electronic links to electronically purchase and/or requestwithout charge, the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products and/or product samples for the desiredproject directly from one or more desired suppliers of the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products and/orproduct samples. In FIG. 13B at Step 174, sending one or more responsemessages from the product sample management application on the servernetwork device via the communications network to the network deviceindicating the one or more request messages have been received andprocessed At Step 176, receiving a payment request message on theproduct sample management application on the server network device viathe communications network from the network device to request purchaseand/or request without charge, of the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products and/or productsamples for the desired project directly from the one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products and/or product samples for the desiredproject. At Step 178, processing the payment request on the productsample management application on the server network device to initiateelectronic purchase and/or request without charge of the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products and/orproduct samples for the desired project from the one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products and/or product samples. At Step 180,sending one or more payment response messages from the product samplemanagement application on the server network device to the networkdevice via the communications network to confirm that the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products and/orproduct samples for the desired project have been successfully purchasedand/or requested without charge from the one or more desired suppliersof the one or more different architecture, design or construction,physical products and/or product samples.

Method 166 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 13A at Step 168, receiving oneor more request messages 13 a, 15 a on a product sample managementapplication 30 a on a server network device 20 with one or moreprocessors via a communications network 18′, 18 from a network device12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31 98-104 with one or more processors. The one ormore request messages 13 a, 15 a including one or more bar code 17, 154activation requests for the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products (e.g., 19, etc.) and/or productsamples 37 for a desired project. The one or more request messages 13 a,15 a including one or more product purchase requests for the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products 19and/or product samples 37 for the desired project.

The physical products, include, but are not limited to, wall coverings(e.g., paint, wall paper, etc.), floor coverings (e.g., tile, carpet,laminate, wood, etc.), studs (e.g., wood, metal, etc.) plywood, drywall,roofing, doors, windows, electrical, plumbing, lighting, fasteners(e.g., screws, nails, bolts, rivets, etc.) and/or other types ofconstruction materials, etc. However, the present invention is notlimited to such embodiments and other embodiments, may be used topractice the invention.

The physical product samples, include, but are not limited to, smallportions of wall coverings (e.g., paint, wall paper, etc.), floorcoverings (e.g., tile, carpet, laminate, wood, etc.), studs (e.g., wood,metal, etc.) plywood, drywall, roofing materials, doors, windows,electrical, plumbing, lighting, and/or fasteners (e.g., screws, nails,bolts, rivets, etc.), and/or types of construction materials, etc.However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments andother embodiments, may be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the one or more request messages from the networkdevice include, but are not limited to, one or more messages generatedfrom a 3D modeling program 45 on the network device including a BuildingInformation Modeling (BIM) program 45 a. However, the present inventionis not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments can be usedto practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the BIM program 45 a includes, but is not limited to,an AUTODESK REVIT program, an AUTOCAD program, a VECTORWORKS program, aMICROSTATION program, an ARCHICAD program, or a SKETCHUP program.However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments andother embodiments can be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the BIM program 45 a includes, but is not limited to,a BIM product sample management application 30 a for automaticallylabeling virtual design components in the BIM program 45 a withdifferent product bar codes 17 representing the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products 19 a, 19 b (FIG.1 , only two of which are illustrated for simplicity) and/or productsamples 37 for the desired project from the one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products and/or product samples for the desiredproject. However, the present invention is not limited to suchembodiments and other embodiments can be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the product sample management application 30 a in theBIM program 45 a includes, but is not limited to, an ArtificialIntelligence (AI) application 30 b either with and/or without a Big Dataset that automatically generates a plurality of unique bar codes forplural different architecture, design or construction physical productsand/or product samples available from the one or more desired supplierswithin the BIM program 45 a. However, the present invention is notlimited to such embodiments and other embodiments can be used topractice the invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram 182 illustrating and exemplary shippingcontainer including automatically fulfilling architecture, design orconstruction physical products.

FIG. 14 includes, but is not limited to, one or more electronic links183, a purchasing component 184 (e.g., graphical shopping cart, etc.) aproduct swatch 186, product card 188, product sheet 190 product page192, product catalog 194, and/or standards book 196 with a bar code 17,154. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodimentand more, fewer and/or other types of product information 156 can beused to practice the invention.

Returning to FIG. 13A, in one embodiment, the one or more requestmessages received on the product sample management application 30 a onthe server network device 20 from the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29,31 98-104 via the communications network 18, 18′ on which one or morebar codes 17 have been activated, include but are not limited to, barcodes 17 activated on digital copies of product information 156,including, but not limited to, a product swatch 186, product card 188,product sheet 190 product page 192, product catalog 194, and/orstandards book 196, for an architecture, design or construction productfor which a desired physical product 19 a, 19 b and/or product samples37 may be purchased and/or requested without charge, are being viewed onthe network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31 98-104.

In one embodiment, include, but are not limited to, a digital copyand/or a paper copy of construction details and/or constructiondocuments. In one embodiment plural bar codes have been automaticallyadded to the digital copy of construction details and/or constructiondocuments by the product sample management application 30 a to allowarchitecture, design or construction components physical products 19 a,19 b, and/or product samples 37 to be requested to be purchased directlyfrom the digital copy of the construction details and/or constructiondocuments. However, the present invention is not limited to such anembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

“Construction details are companion drawings to plans, sections andelevations and are usually the largest-scale drawings found within sets.They show how building materials and systems interface and include morehighly detailed dimensional criteria and material noting.” TheArchitects Handbook of Professional Practice—Fifteenth Edition, pg. 681,ISBN: 978-1-118-30882-0, November 2013. This architect handbook isincorporated herein by reference.

Construction details provide a complete description of a specific partof an object such as a building, bridge, tunnel, engineering system,etc. Construction details are used on large-scale drawings that showcomprehensive information about parts that may be described in lessdetail on general arrangement drawings. Construction details typicallyinclude dimensions, tolerances, notation, symbols and specificationinformation about construction objects. However, the present inventionis not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments may be usedto practice the invention.

Construction details include, but are not limited to, 2D orthogonalprojections showing plans, sections and elevations and are preparedusing Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. 3D modeling programs such asBuilding information modeling (BIM) programs are also being used tocreate detailed 3D representations of construction details for buildingsand their components. However, the present invention is not limited tosuch an embodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice theinvention.

Suppliers of construction and building materials provide standardconstruction details for the components they provide. Architects,engineers, designers, contractors, etc. create their own standardconstruction details that are adopted, used and reused across differentprojects. Construction details also describe common ways of satisfyingbuildings regulations and building codes. A series of AccreditedConstruction Details (ACDs) have been developed to help achieve theperformance standards required by building regulations.

Construction documents include, but are not limited to, biddingdocuments, construction contractor agreements, architectural drawings,invoices, specifications, bill of quantities, bill of materials, workschedules, work orders, subcontractor information, structural drawings,electrical drawings, plumbing and sanitary drawings, heating,ventilation and air conditioning drawings, finishing drawings, framingand utility plans, permits, interior and exterior elevations, buildingand wall sections, interior design documents, interior and exteriordetails, room finishes, punch lists and/or other types of constructiondocuments. However, the present invention is not limited to suchembodiments and other types of construction documents can be used topractice the invention.

In one embodiment, the one or more request messages received on theproduct sample management application 30 a on the server network device20 from the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31 98-104 via thecommunications network 18, 18′ on which one or more bar codes 17 havebeen activated, include but are not limited to, bar codes 17 activatedon paper copies of product information 156, including, but not limitedto, a product swatch 186, product card 188, product sheet 190 productpage 192, product catalog 194, and/or standards book 196 for anarchitecture, design or construction product for which a desiredphysical product 19 a, 19 b and/or product samples 37 may be purchased,are being viewed on the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31 98-104.

In one embodiment, the bar codes include static or dynamic QuickResponse (QR) codes 17, 154 However, the present invention is notlimited to such an embodiment and other embodiments, and/or other typesof bar codes and/or a combination of QR codes and other bar codes, canbe used to practice the invention.

Static QR codes 17, 154 include, but are not limited to: (1) a one-timepurpose code; (2) limited data storage in the code; and (3) provideselectronic links to email addresses, Uniform Resource Locators (URLs),electronic text, WiFi passwords, social media links such as FACEBOOK,INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, PINTEREST, etc.

Dynamic QR codes 17, 154 are QR codes that are modifiable in content andcan store more data even after the dynamic QR code is printed ontopaper. Dynamic QR codes enable access to real-time activation monitoringand/or determining locations of Dynamic QR code 17, 154 activationsmade.

Dynamic QR codes 17, 154 include, but are not limited to the followingfeatures: (1) multifunctional QR codes for multiple URL directories; (2)editable and provides the ability to create and/or remove URLs even ifyour QR code has been printed and or deployed; (2) uses short dynamicURLs in storing data online; (3) QR code activations are trackable sousers can see their QR analytics results; (4) allow analyticsintegration (e.g., GOOGLE analytics, etc.); (5) provide a passwordprotection feature; (6) provide an email notification feature; (7)provide a time expiration feature; (8) allow integration into othernon-cloud and cloud applications and cloud services; and (9) provide anAPI integration feature.

In one embodiment, the QR codes 17, 154 are printed on paper, insertedas a digital image on paper and electronic copies of productinformation, construction details, construction documents, etc. However,the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and otherembodiments can be used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the QR codes 17, 154 are laser 61 engraved and/orlaser 61 etched directly on the physical products 19 and/or physicalproduct samples 37. However, the present invention is not limited tosuch embodiments and other embodiments can be used to practice theinvention.

“Laser etching” is a process that creates marks on parts and products bymelting their surface. “Laser engraving” is a process that vaporizesmaterials into fumes to engrave permanent, deep marks. The laser 61 beamacts as a chisel, incising marks by removing layers from the surface ofthe material. The laser 61 hits localized areas with massive levels ofenergy to generate the high heat required for vaporization. The maindifference between laser etching and laser engraving is that etchingmelts the micro surface to create raised marks, whereas engravingremoves material to create deep marks. Both laser 61 processes use highheat to create permanent markings. However, the present invention is notlimited to such embodiments and other laser 61 techniques and/or otheretching and engraving techniques can be used to practice the invention

At Step 170, adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication 30 a on the server network device 20 the one or morerequests 13 a, 15 a for the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products 19 and/or product samples 37 for thedesired project to a purchasing component 184 (FIG. 14 ).

In one embodiment, if the one or more requests 13 a, 15 a are made torequest an item without charge the one or more requests 13 a, 15 a wouldinclude, for example, a price amount of $0.00 and that price amountwould be sent to purchasing component 184. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments canbe used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the purchasing component 184 includes a graphicalshopping cart (illustrated in FIG. 14 ) and/or a graphical shopping bag.However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment andother embodiments can be used to practice the invention.

At Step 172, adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication 30 a on the server network device 20 to the purchasingcomponent 184 one or more electronic links 183 to electronicallypurchase and/or request without charge the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products 19 a, 19 band/or product samples 37 for the desired project directly from one ormore desired suppliers of the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products 19 a, 19 b and/or product samples 37.

In one embodiment, the one or more electronic links 183 include, but arenot limited to, one or more electronic links 183 to one or moredifferent product supplier web-sites 22 a, 24 a, 26 a including one ormore different supplier server network devices 22, 24, 26, each with oneor more processors. However, the present invention is not limited tosuch an embodiment and other embodiments can be used to practice theinvention.

In one embodiment, the one or more electronic links 183 include, but arenot limited to, one or more electronic links 183 to a single productsupplier web-site 20 a including a supplier server network device 20with one or more processors. In such an embodiment, the single productsupplier web-site 20 a is accessible by the network device 12, 14, 16,27, 29, 31 98-104, but is managed by the product sample managementapplication 30 a on the server network device 20. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such an embodiment and other embodiments canbe used to practice the invention.

In one embodiment, the single product supplier web-site 20 a includes,but is not limited to, a web-site included on the server network device20 and accessible only by the product sample management application 30a. In such an embodiment, the web-site 20 a is not accessible by thenetwork device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31 98-104 and is accessible only bythe product sample management application 30 a allows the product samplemanagement application 30 a on the server network device to be the onlyentity that allows purchasing of the one or more different architecture,design or construction, physical products 19 a, 19 b and/or productsamples 37 selected for purchase by activating the one or moreassociated bar codes 17. However, the present invention is not limitedto such an embodiment and other embodiments can be used to practice theinvention.

At Step 176, receiving a payment request message on the product samplemanagement application 30 a on the server network device 20 via thecommunications network 18, 18′ from the network device 12, 14, 16, 27,29, 31 98-104 to request purchase of the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products 19 a, 19 band/or product samples 37 for the desired project directly from the oneor more desired suppliers of the one or more different architecture,design or construction, physical products 19 a, 19 b and/or productsamples 37 for the desired project.

At Step 178, processing the payment request on the product samplemanagement application 30 a on the server network device 20 to initiateelectronic purchase and/or request without charge of the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products 19and/or product samples 37 for the desired project from the one or moredesired suppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products 19 a, 19 b and/or product samples 37.

At Step 180, sending one or more payment response messages from theproduct sample management application 30 a on the server network device20 to the network device 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 31 98-104 via thecommunications network 18, 18′ to confirm that the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products 19 a, 19 b forthe desired project have been successfully purchased and/or requestedwithout charge from the one or more desired suppliers of the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products 19 a,19 b and/or product samples 37.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 198 for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction physical productrequests.

In FIG. 15 , at Step 200, automatically collecting from the productsample management application on the server network device via thecommunications network from plural different web-sites including pluralother server network devices each with one or more processors, pluraldesired architecture, design or construction physical products and/orproduct samples available to be requested without charge and/orpurchased. At Step 202, automatically adding from the product samplemanagement application on the server network device, plural bar codes todigital copies of plural: 3D modeling programs 45, including BuildingInformation Modeling (BIM) programs 45 a, product swatches, productcards, product sheets, product pages, product catalogs, or standardsbooks, to allow the collected desired architecture, design orconstruction physical products and/or product samples to be requestedand purchased directly from the digital copies of the plural 3D modelingprograms, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) programs,product swatches, product cards, product sheets, product pages, productcatalogs, or standards books.

Method 198 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 15 , at Step 200, automaticallycollecting from the product sample management application 30 a on theserver network device 20 via the communications network 18, 18′ fromplural different web-sites 22 a, 24 a, 26 a including plural otherserver network devices 22, 24, 26, each with one or more processors,plural desired architecture, design and/or construction physicalproducts 19 a, 19 b and/or product samples 37 available to be requestedwithout charge and/or purchased.

At Step 202, automatically adding from the product sample managementapplication 30 a on the server network device 20, plural bar codes 17 todigital copies of plural: 3D modeling programs, including BuildingInformation Modeling (BIM) programs, product sample swatches 186,product sample cards 188, product sheets, 190, product pages 192,product catalogs 194, or standards books 196, to allow the collecteddesired architecture, design or construction physical products 19 and/orproduct samples 37 to be requested and purchased directly from thedigital copies of the plural 3D modeling programs, including BuildingInformation Modeling (BIM) programs, product swatches, product cards,product sheets, product pages, product catalogs, and/or or standardsbooks, and/or other product information sources.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a Method 204 for automaticallyfulfilling architecture, design or construction physical productrequests.

In FIG. 16 , at Step 206 collecting from the product sample managementapplication on the server network device, analytic information includingindividual metrics for analysis of bar code activations, productpurchase requests, type of product purchases requests, product purchaseand/or product request trends and inventory control alerts wheninventory of product reaches a pre-determined level at thepre-determined location. At Step 208, providing from the product samplemanagement application on the server network device an analytics reportdisplaying the collected analytic information on a graphical displaycomponent of server network device.

Method 198 is illustrated with an illustrated an exemplary embodiment.However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment and other embodiments may be used to practice the invention.

In such an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 16 , at Step 206, collectingfrom the product sample management application 30 a on the servernetwork device 20, analytic information including individual metrics foranalysis of bar code 17, 154 activations, physical product and/orproduct sample purchase requests, type of physical product and/orproduct sample purchases requests, physical product and/or productsample purchase trends and/or inventory control alerts when inventory ofa physical product and/or product sample reaches a pre-determined levelat the pre-determined location.

At Step 208, providing from the product sample management application 30a on the server network device 20 an analytics report 53 a displayingthe collected analytic information on a graphical display component ofserver network device.

A method and system for automatically ordering and fulfillingarchitecture, design or construction physical product and/or productsample requests with bar codes is presented. Physical product and/orproduct sample request bar codes are added to plural 3D modelingprograms, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) programs, anddigital and paper copies of product swatches, product cards, productsheets, product pages, product catalogs, and/or or standards books,and/or other product information sources. When the bar codes areactivated, architecture, design or construction physical products and/orproduct samples are automatically added to a shopping cart forelectronic purchase and/or request without charge.

It should be understood that the architecture, programs, processes,methods and It should be understood that the architecture, programs,processes, methods and systems described herein are not related orlimited to any particular type of computer or network system (hardwareor software), unless indicated otherwise. Various types of specializedcomputer systems may be used with or perform operations in accordancewith the teachings described herein.

In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles ofthe present invention can be applied, it should be understood that theillustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the present invention. For example, the steps ofthe flow diagrams may be taken in sequences other than those described,and more or fewer elements may be used in the block diagrams.

While various elements of the preferred embodiments have been describedas being implemented in software, in other embodiments hardware orfirmware implementations may alternatively be used, and vice-versa.

The claims should not be read as limited to the described order orelements unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of the term“means” in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6,and any claim without the word “means” is not so intended.

Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of thefollowing claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.

I claim:
 1. A method for automatically fulfilling, construction anddesign product requests comprising: receiving one or more requestmessages on a product sample management application on a server networkdevice with one or more processors via a communications network from anetwork device with one or more processors, the one or more requestmessages including one or more bar code activation requests for the oneor more different architecture, design or construction, physicalproducts or product samples for a desired project, the one or morerequest messages including one or more requests for product purchaserequests or request without charge requests for the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products orproduct samples for the desired project; adding automatically from theproduct sample management application on the server network device theone or more requests for the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product samples for the desiredproject to a purchasing component; adding automatically from the productsample management application on the server network device to the to thepurchasing component one or more electronic links to electronicallypurchase or electronically request without charge the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products orproduct samples for the desired project directly from one or moredesired suppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products or product samples; sending one or moreresponse messages from the product sample management application on theserver network device via the communications network to the networkdevice indicating the one or more request messages have been receivedand processed; receiving a payment request message on the product samplemanagement application on the server network device via thecommunications network from the network device to request purchase orrequest without charge of the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product sample for the desiredproject directly from the one or more desired suppliers of the one ormore different architecture, design or construction, physical productsfor the desired project; processing the payment request on the productsample management application on the server network device to initiateelectronic purchase or request without charge of the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products orproduct samples for the desired project from the one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products; and sending one or more paymentresponse messages from the product sample management application on theserver network device to the network device via the communicationsnetwork to confirm that the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product samples for the desiredproject have been successfully purchased or requested without chargefrom the one or more desired suppliers of the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein, the one or more request messages from the networkdevice include one or more messages generated from a 3D modeling programon the network device including a Building Information Modeling (BIM)program.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein, the BIM program includes anAUTODESK REVIT program, an AUTOCAD program, a VECTORWORKS program, aMICROSTATION program, an ARCHICAD program, or a SKETCHUP program.
 4. Themethod of claim 2 wherein, BIM program includes a BIM product samplemanagement application for labeling virtual design components in the BIMprogram with different product bar codes representing the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products forthe desired project from the one or more desired suppliers of the one ormore different architecture, design or construction, physical productsfor the desired project.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein, the BIMproduct sample management application in the BIM program includes anArtificial Intelligence (AI) application that automatically generates aplurality of unique bar codes for a plurality of different architecture,design or construction physical products available from the one or moredesired suppliers within the BIM program.
 6. The method of claim 1wherein, the one or more request messages are received on the productsample management application on the server network device from thenetwork device via the communications network on which one or more barcodes have been activated on digital copies of a product sample swatch,product sample card, product page, product catalog, or standards bookfor an architecture, design or construction product for which a desiredphysical product may be purchased, are being viewed on the networkdevice.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein, the one or more requestmessages are received on the product sample management application onthe server network device from the network device via the communicationsnetwork on which one or more bar codes have been activated on papercopies of a product sample swatch, product sample card, product page,product catalog, or standards book for an architecture, design orconstruction product for which a desired physical product may bepurchased or requested without charge, are being viewed on the networkdevice.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein, a plurality of bar codes havebeen automatically added to the digital copy of construction details orconstruction documents by the product sample management application toallow architecture, design or construction components physical productsto be requested and to be purchased directly from the digital copy ofthe construction details or construction documents.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein, the purchasing component includes a graphical shoppingcart or shopping bag.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein, the bar codesinclude a static Quick Response (QR) or a dynamic QR bar code.
 11. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the static QR code or dynamic QR code areetched or engraved with a laser directly on the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products or physicalproduct samples.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein, the bar codesinclude linear bar codes or a combination of linear bar codes and QR barcodes.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein, the one or more electroniclinks include one or more electronic links to one or more differentproduct supplier web-sites including a supplier server network devicewith one or more processors, from which desired architecture, design orconstruction components physical products may be purchased.
 14. Themethod of claim 1 wherein, the one or more electronic links include oneor more electronic links to a single product supplier web-site includinga supplier server network device with one or more processors andaccessible by the network device, from which desired architecture,design or construction components physical products may be purchased.15. The method of claim 14 wherein, the single product supplier web-siteincludes a web-site included on the server network device and accessibleonly by the product sample management application on the server networkdevice, from which the desired architecture, design or constructioncomponents physical products may be purchased.
 16. The method of claim 1further comprising: automatically collecting from the product samplemanagement application on the server network device via thecommunications network from a plurality of different web-sites includinga plurality of other server network devices each with one or moreprocessors, a plurality of desired architecture, design or constructionphysical products available to be requested and purchased; andautomatically adding from the product sample management application onthe server network device, a plurality of bar codes to digital copies ofa plurality of: 3D modeling programs, including Building InformationModeling (BIM) programs, product swatches, product cards, productsheets, product pages, product catalogs, standards books, or otherproduct information sources, to allow the collected desiredarchitecture, design or construction physical products to be requestedand purchased or requested without charge directly from the digitalcopies of the plurality of 3D modeling programs, including BuildingInformation Modeling (BIM) programs, product sample swatches, productsample cards, product pages, product catalogs, standards books or otherproduct information sources.
 17. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: collecting from the product sample management application onthe server network device, analytic information including individualmetrics for analysis of bar code activations, physical product orproduct sample purchase requests, physical product or product samplerequests without charge, type of physical product or product samplepurchase requests, physical product or product sample purchase trendsand inventory control alerts when inventory of physical product orproduct sample reaches a pre-determined level at the pre-determinedlocation; and providing from the product sample management applicationon the server network device an analytics report displaying thecollected analytic information on a graphical display component ofserver network device.
 18. The method of claim 1 wherein, the networkdevice includes a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer,mobile phone, personal digital/data assistant (PDA), wearable networkdevice or smart speaker.
 19. The method of claim 1 wherein, thecommunications network includes a cloud communications networkcomprising: one or more public communications networks, one or moreprivate communications networks, one or more community network or one ormore hybrid networks and the cloud communications network includes acloud computing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), a cloud Platform asa Service (PaaS) and Specific cloud software Services as a Service(SaaS) including SaaS cloud software services for automaticallygenerating architecture, design or construction physical productselection and purchasing.
 20. The method of claim 1 wherein, the servernetwork device and the network device include one or more wirelesscommunications interfaces comprising: cellular telephone, 802.11a,802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.15.4 (ZigBee), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi),Wi-Fi Aware, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX),ETSI High Performance Radio Metropolitan Area Network (HIPERMAN),aviation communications, Near Field Communications (NFC),Machine-to-Machine (M2M), Bluetooth or infra data association (IrDA)wireless communication interfaces.
 21. A non-transitory computerreadable medium, having stored therein a plurality of instructionsconfigured for causing one more processors on one more network devicesconnected to a communications network, to execute the steps of:receiving one or more request messages on a product sample managementapplication on a server network device with one or more processors via acommunications network from a network device with one or moreprocessors, the one or more request messages including one or more barcode activation requests for the one or more different architecture,design or construction, physical products or product samples for adesired project, the one or more request messages including one or morerequests for product purchase requests or request without chargerequests for the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products or product samples for the desiredproject; adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication on the server network device the one or more requests forthe one or more different architecture, design or construction, physicalproducts or product samples for the desired project to a purchasingcomponent; adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication on the server network device to the to the purchasingcomponent one or more electronic links to electronically purchase orelectronically request without charge the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products or productsamples for the desired project directly from one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products or product samples; sending one or moreresponse messages from the product sample management application on theserver network device via the communications network to the networkdevice indicating the one or more request messages have been receivedand processed; receiving a payment request message on the product samplemanagement application on the server network device via thecommunications network from the network device to request purchase orrequest without charge of the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product sample for the desiredproject directly from the one or more desired suppliers of the one ormore different architecture, design or construction, physical productsfor the desired project; processing the payment request on the productsample management application on the server network device to initiateelectronic purchase or request without charge of the one or moredifferent architecture, design or construction, physical products orproduct samples for the desired project from the one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products; and sending one or more paymentresponse messages from the product sample management application on theserver network device to the network device via the communicationsnetwork to confirm that the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product samples for the desiredproject have been successfully purchased or requested without chargefrom the one or more desired suppliers of the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products.
 22. A systemfor automatically fulfilling, construction and design physical productrequests, comprising in combination: a communications network; one ormore network devices each with one or more processors; one or moreserver network devices each with one or more processors; the one moreprocessors including a plurality of instructions configured: forreceiving one or more request messages on a product sample managementapplication on a server network device with one or more processors via acommunications network from a network device with one or moreprocessors, the one or more request messages including one or more barcode activation requests for the one or more different architecture,design or construction, physical products or product samples for adesired project, the one or more request messages including one or morerequests for product purchase requests or request without chargerequests for the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products or product samples for the desiredproject; for adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication on the server network device the one or more requests forthe one or more different architecture, design or construction, physicalproducts or product samples for the desired project to a purchasingcomponent; for adding automatically from the product sample managementapplication on the server network device to the to the purchasingcomponent one or more electronic links to electronically purchase orelectronically request without charge the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products or productsamples for the desired project directly from one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products or product samples; for sending one ormore response messages from the product sample management application onthe server network device via the communications network to the networkdevice indicating the one or more request messages have been receivedand processed; for receiving a payment request message on the productsample management application on the server network device via thecommunications network from the network device to request purchase orrequest without charge of the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product sample for the desiredproject directly from the one or more desired suppliers of the one ormore different architecture, design or construction, physical productsfor the desired project; for processing the payment request on theproduct sample management application on the server network device toinitiate electronic purchase or request without charge of the one ormore different architecture, design or construction, physical productsor product samples for the desired project from the one or more desiredsuppliers of the one or more different architecture, design orconstruction, physical products; and for sending one or more paymentresponse messages from the product sample management application on theserver network device to the network device via the communicationsnetwork to confirm that the one or more different architecture, designor construction, physical products or product samples for the desiredproject have been successfully purchased or requested without chargefrom the one or more desired suppliers of the one or more differentarchitecture, design or construction, physical products.